The number of trees the Arborist Division has issued a fine for being removed without a permit has dropped significantly (41%) over the past three quarters. However, we also know there is no longer any police enforcement of the Tree Ordinance* -- even though police enforcement is required by Section 158-33 of the Tree Ordinance -- which means that some people may have given up reporting illegal tree removal to the police or the Arborist Division.

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*On Saturday, April 1, 2023, a Peachtree Hills was told by an officer at the Atlanta Police Department Zone 2 Precinct Office that he would not respond to her call about illegal tree removal.  (However, a Zone 2 police officer did finally respond when he was told that the tree cutters were using vehicles that had no license plates.)  At the subsequent NPU-B meeting on April 4, Major Ailen Mitchell, Atlanta Police Department's Zone 2 Commander, told the same Peachtree Hills resident that the APD was no longer responding to calls about illegal tree cutting, that enforcement was the responsibility of the Arborist Division. However, Section 158-33 of the Tree Ordinance states that "In instances in which an individual or firm is found cutting or otherwise destroying a tree without a permit to do so in their possession, the Atlanta Police Department shall require such person or persons to cease such operations until a permit is obtained."