Albany, GA Tree Removal Guide: Storms, Rules (2026)

Updated October 24, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Tree care license	Georgia has no state licensing, training or insurance requirement for tree care providers; a licensing bill (HB 882) was introduced in 2025	Georgia Recorder; LegiScan
Power lines	No work within 10 feet of an overhead line over 750 volts until the utility is notified and guards it; notice at least 72 hours ahead, excluding weekends and holidays	O.C.G.A. 46-3-33, 46-3-34
Buried lines	Georgia 811 locates are free; excavators submit at least two business days ahead; requests expire after 30 days	Georgia 811
City trees	City arborist in Albany Engineering inspects public trees and reviews removals tied to site plans and commercial properties	City of Albany
Storm history	85 mph straight-line winds (Jan. 2, 2017), EF3 tornado (Jan. 22, 2017), Hurricane Michael (Oct. 10, 2018)	NWS Tallahassee; Wikipedia
Bark beetles	Ips beetles attack storm-weakened pines; symptomatic trees can't be saved with chemicals	Georgia Forestry Commission

Does a tree company need a license in Georgia?

No. In December 2024, a Georgia House study committee on tree care safety reported that the state has no licensing or registration requirement for tree care providers and no standards for training, equipment or insurance. The committee recommended creating a license program under the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and a bill to regulate and license tree care operators, HB 882, was introduced in the 2025 session. Check its current status before relying on it either way.

The committee also cited a 2020 OSHA estimate that the fatality rate for tree trimmers and pruners could be as high as 1 in 1,000, and Tree Care Industry Association data showing Georgia with the third-highest rate of reported tree care incidents as of 2017. With no state license to look up, ask for insurance certificates sent directly from the insurer, check that the company carries workers' compensation, and get the scope of work in writing.

What did Albany's storms do to its trees?

On January 2, 2017, a thunderstorm produced straight-line winds the National Weather Service estimated at 85 mph across a path about 9 miles long and up to 4 miles wide, snapping or uprooting hundreds of trees in the northern half of Albany. The survey found much of the serious damage came from trees falling onto homes and power lines, and called out the Rawson Circle area, where streets are canopied by old oaks.

On January 22, 2017, an EF3 tornado with peak winds estimated at 150 mph tracked about 70 miles across Dougherty, Worth, Turner and Wilcox counties, up to 1.25 miles wide. The NWS reported severe tree damage along the entire path, with 90 to 100 percent of trees uprooted or snapped in many spots, and said the tornado destroyed nearly every tree in its path through the Radium Springs area.

Hurricane Michael followed on October 10, 2018, the first Category 3 or stronger hurricane to directly hit Georgia since the 1890s. Downed trees were reported throughout Albany and Dougherty County, and the county sheriff warned that even trees that hadn't fallen still might. UGA pecan specialist Lenny Wells said the storm toppled many older trees in the Albany area, the center of Georgia's pecan production, and estimated about three-quarters of a million pecan trees were lost statewide.

How can I tell whether a tree needs to come down?

UGA Cooperative Extension's circular "Is My Tree Dying?" walks through checking the roots, trunk, limbs and leaves. It says fungal growth at the base or on the trunk is a sign of severe or advanced rot, that root decay can't be reversed, and that injury to the trunk flare or root zone often leads to structural instability. For trees near homes or businesses, it recommends a certified arborist's risk assessment.

Why do storm-damaged pines die later?

The Georgia Forestry Commission explains that Ips bark beetles are secondary pests that attack pines weakened by storms, drought or lightning, and that broken limbs and wounds give them breeding material. Signs include faded branches, crowns turning yellow then red-brown, small round exit holes and fine sawdust on the bark. The Commission recommends removing storm-damaged trees promptly without injuring healthy ones, and says chemicals can't save a tree once symptoms appear.

What are the power line rules?

Georgia's High-Voltage Safety Act defines a high-voltage line as an aboveground line over 750 volts. No one may work where a person or equipment could come within 10 feet of one until the utilities protection center has been notified at least 72 hours ahead, excluding weekends and holidays, and the line's owner has de-energized, moved or covered it. Violations are a misdemeanor. The City of Albany's utility line safety page points people to Georgia 811 to start that notice.

Do I need Georgia 811 for stump grinding?

Grinding goes below ground, so it should be treated as digging. Georgia 811 says marking is free, asks excavators to submit locate requests at least two business days before work, and says a request expires after 30 calendar days.

Questions to ask a tree service

Can your insurer send me certificates for liability and workers' compensation?
Will a certified arborist look at the tree, and could it be pruned instead?
How will the tree come down, and how will you protect the house, lawn and septic system?
Are cleanup, wood hauling and stump grinding included?
Will you request a Georgia 811 locate before grinding, and notify the utility if lines are within 10 feet?

Common questions

Does Georgia license tree removal companies?

No. A 2024 Georgia House study committee found the state has no licensing, training or insurance requirements for tree care providers. A licensing bill, HB 882, was introduced in 2025.

How close can a tree crew work to a power line in Georgia?

Not within 10 feet of an overhead line over 750 volts until the utility has been notified at least 72 hours ahead and has made the line safe, under O.C.G.A. 46-3-33 and 46-3-34.

Who handles trees on city property in Albany?

The city arborist in the City of Albany Engineering Department, who inspects public trees that are dead, dying, diseased or hazardous.

Albany, Georgia tree removal guide (2026)