Columbia, South Carolina
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia's landscape and tree ordinance requires a tree removal permit for trees on private property, except on single-family residential lots. Construction, grading, paving and trenching near protected trees need a tree protection plan, and trees in the right-of-way belong to the city.
- County
- Richland (and part of Lexington)
- Tree rules
- City of Columbia Landscape and Tree Ordinance; Forestry and Beautification Division
- Key local rule
- Tree removal permit on private property other than single-family lots; tree protection plans for construction
- Electric utility
- Dominion Energy South Carolina
- Main hazards
- Summer storms, tropical storm remnants, flooding, tall pines over houses
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Columbia?
Not on a single-family residential lot. The city's tree removal permit applies to private property other than single-family lots, such as commercial, multifamily and institutional sites. Any project with construction, grading, paving, trenching or similar work near protected trees needs a tree protection plan or permit, including on residential sites under development.
- Single-family lot
- No tree removal permit.
- Other private property
- Tree removal permit through the city.
- Right-of-way
- City trees, handled by Forestry.
Midlands warning signs
Pines leaning after heavy rain
Sandy soil over clay lets roots slip.
Water oaks with hollow trunks
Short-lived oaks near the end of their lives.
Trees along creeks with exposed roots
Erosion from flooding.
Southern pine beetle pitch tubes
Beetles after drought.
Floods and storms in the Midlands
In October 2015, rain from a stalled system fed by Hurricane Joaquin dropped historic totals on Columbia. Dams failed, creeks flooded neighborhoods, and saturated soil let large trees fall in winds that would not normally topple them. Trees along Gills Creek and other streams were undermined.
Columbia also sees strong summer thunderstorms, and the remnants of hurricanes such as Hugo in 1989 and Helene in 2024 have brought down trees across the Midlands.
Tall loblolly pines over houses are the most common removal request after a storm.
Columbia's summers are among the hottest in the Southeast, and long dry spells weaken pines and oaks alike. Stressed pines draw southern pine beetle, and a cluster of dying pines in one neighborhood often means beetles are breeding in them.
The landscape and tree ordinance
The city's Forestry and Beautification Division administers the permit. Applications include a checklist, may need a site plan and a replacement or density mitigation plan, and ask whether a recorded covenant restricts the work. Deed restrictions in some neighborhoods add their own rules.
Activities that trigger a tree protection plan include construction, filling, demolition, grading, timber harvesting, paving, trenching and boring for utilities.
Columbia neighborhoods and trees
- Shandon and Rosewood
- Mature oaks and pines over older homes.
- Forest Acres and Gills Creek area
- Large trees on creek-side lots, flood history.
- Downtown and the University of South Carolina
- Street trees and campus oaks.
- Northeast suburbs
- Tall pines left standing during development.
- Lake Murray and Irmo edges
- Lakefront lots with pines and hardwoods, where shoreline rules can also apply.
Planning a removal
Confirm the property type
Single-family or not.
Check covenants
Deed restrictions may apply.
Apply if required
To Forestry and Beautification.
Plan mitigation
If the permit requires replacement.
Protect trees during work
Fence root zones on construction sites and keep trenches outside them, as the ordinance's tree protection rules expect.
Columbia tree questions
Does the City of Columbia regulate trees in my backyard?
Not on a single-family residential lot, unless the work is part of construction covered by the ordinance.
Who handles street trees?
The city's Forestry Division.
Do Richland County rules apply in the city?
No. Unincorporated Richland County and Lexington County have their own rules.
How do I prepare pines for storm season?
Remove dead and leaning pines near the house, and have large pines over bedrooms assessed.
Are there rules for trees near creeks?
Stream buffers and floodplain rules can apply to work along creeks. Ask the city before clearing near water.
What should replace a storm-killed pine?
Willow oak, southern red oak, bald cypress in wet spots and longleaf pine all suit the Midlands, planted well back from the house.
Reach a tree service in Columbia
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Columbia area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day