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Tree Care Services to Residents

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Line drawing of three trees with a wrench on the upper right-hand corner

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Introduction

The City of Charlotte Arborist Group is part of the Landscape Management Division and maintains more than 200,000 trees along City streets and plants an average of 800 trees each year.

Public trees (or street trees) are located within the city street right-of-way and are protected by the Charlotte Tree Ordinance.

A diagram of cross-section of a neighborhood street illustrating which area is considered right-of-way

Inspection

Two inspectors in safety vests placing a wired sensor on the trunk of a tree City arborist Laurie Reid kneeling down in front of a tree that has mushrooms growing out of its trunk at ground level A tree trunk with a large cavity at ground level

The City of Charlotte Landscape Management is responsible for managing more than 200,000 trees in the public rights-of-way. We encourage residents to contact us when tree issues arise. If you believe a right-of-way tree should be inspected by one of our certified arborists, contact Landscape Management via 311 or the CLT+ app. For tree-related emergencies such as active tree failure, a tree or tree part blocking a road or if a right-of-way tree or tree part has fallen on to your property, please call 911. To learn more about tree storm response, visit our Trees and Storms page.

Our certified arborists inspect trees for health, structural stability, general maintenance needs and tree-related emergencies. Once an inspection has been requested, it may take up to two weeks for the arborist to visit the site and assess the tree(s). Our inspector will determine the required maintenance and will create a work order for in-house staff or a contractor to perform. The inspecting arborist will relay their findings to the resident via doorhanger, phone call or email. The inspector will determine the appropriate tree care, prioritizing the health and safety of the tree, and will recommend pruning, removal or place the tree on the calendar for re-inspection at a later date. Some requests may not be implemented. If the tree of concern has declined in health or the tree issue has increased in severity after a work order is created, contact Landscape Management for a re-inspection of the tree.

Questions?

Call CharMeck 311 (704.336.7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County)

Email landscapemanagement@charlottenc.gov

Get the CLT+ mobile app

Pruning

A worker in safety vest and hard hat with a chainsaw cutting a branch on the ground A bucket truck on the street with the bucket and tree worker extended in a large front yard Workers in safety vests and hard hats cutting branches on the sidewalk next to a large truck

General maintenance pruning is an important part of tree health and safety. Trees are pruned to remove dead and hazardous limbs, clear buildings and signs and provide clearance over roads and sidewalks. Tree pruning may be assigned to our in-house staff or to a contractor. Due to the high number of pruning requests and the prioritization of emergency response, the timeframe for tree pruning may be extended and it may take multiple years to complete maintenance pruning. The timeframe for pruning can be two or more years; if the work is of low priority, this may be extended to three or more years.

A Note About Trees Under Utility Lines

Trees under overhead utility lines are pruned by Duke Energy, not the City of Charlotte. If you have concerns about trees under utility lines, please contact Duke Energy at 800.877.9898 or visit their online map of planned tree-trimming.

Questions?

Call CharMeck 311 (704.336.7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County)

Email landscapemanagement@charlottenc.gov

Get the CLT+ mobile app

Removals

A worker in a bucket truck cutting into the trunk of a tree whose branches have already been removed A worker cutting in a large branch that has been placed on the ground A large crane holding part of a tree trunk dangling over a large garbage truck

Trees are dynamic living organisms with a myriad of benefits, from providing shade and wildlife habitat to increased well-being and community aesthetics. Trees have a lifespan ranging from 20 years to more than 100 years. Once this lifespan is reached or is cut short through decay, pests, disease or mechanical damage, trees need to be removed.

If our inspector has determined a tree requires removal, a work order is created and the tree is marked with orange forestry paint for identification by our crews or contractors. Tree removals are a priority as tree failures can potentially damage property or become dangerous if not handled in a timely manner. However, not all trees need to be removed quickly.

The inspecting arborist will assign a priority level to each work order. The highest-priority trees are removed more quickly than lower-priority trees. The timeframe for tree removal varies widely and can range from four or more months to two or more years depending on the situation and tree condition.

Questions?

Call CharMeck 311 (704.336.7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County)

Email landscapemanagement@charlottenc.gov

Get the CLT+ mobile app

Planting

A newly planted tree in the planting strip between the sidewalk and the curb Four young trees placed in the planting strip about to be covered with dirt at the base A line of young redbuds during a tree giveaway

Charlotte’s tree canopy is one of our defining characteristics, and we strive to replenish and increase the canopy through tree-planting efforts. Landscape Management plants 700 to 1,000 trees in the city rights-of-way every year. Residents can request a tree to be planted in the right-of-way area of their yard by contacting Landscape Management via 311 or the CLT+ app. Not all requests can be honored, as the right-of-way is home to utilities, stormwater infrastructure, CDOT signage and other trees. Our tree planting season is late December through March, as the dormant season allows newly planted trees to have the best chance for survival.

Once a plant tree request has been received, our inspector will visit the site to determine if there is adequate space for a tree to be planted and will a create a work order for planting. We plant trees from an approved species list(PDF, 27KB), ensuring the right tree is selected for the space. Small maturing trees are planted where there is limited planting space or overhead powerlines; medium to large maturing trees are planted where there is ample planting space.

We receive hundreds of planting requests every year and we work to equitably distribute trees across the city; therefore, the timeframe for tree planting can range from several months to two or more years, depending on the situation. For example, the timeframe will be longer if there is a stump from a previous tree removal present. We wait approximately one year after stump grinding to allow for soil settling and decomposition of the ground woody material. This time allows the soil to be better suited to support a young tree.

Learn More

To learn more about our tree-planting program, please visit our Street Tree Planting page. To learn more about choosing, pruning, watering, mulching and pest management, please visit our Tree Care Resources page.

Questions?

Call CharMeck 311 (704.336.7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County)

Email landscapemanagement@charlottenc.gov

Get the CLT+ mobile app

Stump Grinding

A worker standing next to a stump grinder attached to a pickup truck

A worker operating a stump grinder on a residential street

Landscape Management manages trees located in the street rights-of-way. When tree maintenance is required, our first priority is to mitigate the risk a street tree may pose to the right-of-way and the community. This mitigation may involve pruning branches for tree health or public safety, or removing an unhealthy tree. When trees are removed a stump may remain in place to be ground at a later date. Because tree stumps pose a significantly lower risk to the right-of-way and the community, there may be a delay in their removal so we can prioritize other tree maintenance needs.

Once the stump is ground, a large portion of the wood chips will be left in place where they can decay and turn into fertile soil. If the wood chips are removed, a depression in the soil may develop as the residual tree roots decay over time. The city does not provide seed and straw for the area where the stump was ground. If the site is suitable for a replacement tree to be planted, we typically wait at least one year after stump grinding before planting a new tree.

The timeframe for stump grinding is three or more years. Not all stumps can be ground. If there are utilities present or grinding the stump would compromise nearby tree roots, the stump may remain in place.

Questions?

Call CharMeck 311 (704.336.7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County)

Email landscapemanagement@charlottenc.gov

Get the CLT+ mobile app

Permits

A Landscape Management worker giving a peace sign from the driver seat of a truck

Wait times can be frustrating. Residents may consider contacting a tree maintenance company to complete the prescribed work for the right-of-way tree near their home. A permit for tree work can be issued after the work is approved by our inspecting arborist. The work is required to be completed by a company with a certified arborist on staff. Any work completed by a private company is at the resident's expense and will not be reimbursed by the city. There is no fee for a tree work permit, and permits are typically issued within two weeks.

Questions?

Call CharMeck 311 (704.336.7600 if calling from outside Mecklenburg County)

Email landscapemanagement@charlottenc.gov

Get the CLT+ mobile app