The Urban Forestry Program: Who We Are

Jump to:

Chattanooga’s Tree Ordinance, originally enacted in 1990, established protection for trees on public property and a 9-member Tree Commission. It also created the position of City Forester and the Urban Forestry Program. 

The program’s mission, from the ordinance, is to protect, maintain, and grow the public resource that is Chattanooga’s urban forest. The program has grown to include 13 positions dedicated to urban trees.

Urban Forestry staff are involved daily in:

  • Reviewing and inspecting incoming 311 requests
  • Creating, prioritizing, and scheduling work orders for both reactive and proactive maintenance
  • Pruning of young and mature trees
  • Removal of dead, diseased, or hazardous trees
  • Identifying and treating tree pests and diseases
  • Adding mulch and watering young trees
  • Planning an annual tree planting campaign in coordination with community groups
  • Reviewing site plans for impact to existing trees and for design of new public plantings
  • Inspecting construction sites for tree protection and proper tree planting
  • Conducting tree risk assessments and appraisals
  • Long range planning in coordination with other City divisions, business and community groups

Helpful Resources

For maps and visualizations of Chattanooga’s urban forest and the work of the Urban Forestry Program, see the Urban Forestry GIS Data Hub.

To place a tree maintenance or planting request, please use Chattanooga’s 311 system.

Contact Us

Public Works
Call
(423) 643-6311 (423) 643-6311
City Wide Services DivisionContact