Tree replacement, relocation, planting and maintenance requirements.
Charleston, S.C., Zoning Ordinance § 54-331
in effectSec. 54-331. - Tree replacement, relocation, planting and maintenance requirements.
a. Tree Replacement Required.
1. For existing trees, the Board of Zoning Appeals-Site Design is authorized to grant variances or special exceptions to allow their removal as specified in Section 54-327 and 54-329, and to require the planting of replacement trees of at least two and one-half inches (2½″) caliper measured at six inches (6″) above grade with the total caliper inches per removed tree not to exceed the amount specified in Section 54-331.b.
2. For trees removed unlawfully, without approval, the Board of Zoning Appeals-Site Design is authorized to grant after-the-fact approval, and require mitigation for trees removed with replacement trees of at least two and one-half inches (2½″) caliper measured at six inches (6″) above grade. The total caliper inches, type and size of replacement trees required by the Board shall be based on the health and specimen quality of the tree(s) removed, the site specific conditions, and the factual circumstances under which the tree was removed. For trees removed unlawfully from a single-family zoned lot or a lot used exclusively for a single-family home, the Board is authorized to require up to three (3) times the total D.B.H. of the tree(s) removed in caliper inches of replacement trees and the minimum size of the replacement trees to be planted on-site shall be four inches (4″) caliper. For trees removed unlawfully from all other properties, the Board is authorized to require up to ten (10) times the total D.B.H. of the tree(s) removed in caliper inches of replacement trees and the minimum size of the replacement trees to be planted on-site shall be four inches (4″) caliper.
3. In all cases, the Board is authorized to require up to fifty (50) percent of the total caliper inches of replacement trees to be planted off-site at a location in the general area of where the tree removal(s) occurred, and to allow off-site replacement to be accomplished through a contribution to the City of Charleston Street Tree Planting Program in an amount equivalent to the City's cost for the type, size and number of trees to be planted off-site.
4. In certain circumstances, the Board may require mitigation for trees removed in the form of specific arboricultural services to be rendered to remaining trees on the site.
b. Mitigation Requirements. The Board is authorized, upon the granting of a variance or special exception for removal of a grand tree, to require mitigation with replacement trees. The total caliper inches per removed tree shall not exceed the amount specified below for the tree species being removed. Tree species are categorized by ratings taken from the Tree Species Rating Guide (March 2001), developed by the Southern Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. The categories below list tree species by their lowest rating in the range for hardiness zone 8. The category for species not listed below will be determined by using the Tree Species Rating Guide.
Category I (80 and above rating, 100% mitigation)
Acer rubrum | Red Maple
Cornus florida | Dogwood
Ilex opaca | American Holly
Ilex x attenuata | Foster, Savannah Holly
Lagerstroemia indica | Crepe Myrtle
Magnolia grandiflora | Southern Magnolia
Nyssa slyvatica | Blackgum, Tupelo
Quercus alba | White Oak
Quercus phellos | Willow Oak
Quercus virginiana | Live Oak
Taxodium distichum | Bald Cypress
Category II (60 and above rating, 75% mitigation)
Betula nigra | River Birch
Carya illinoensis | Pecan
Carya sp. | Hickory(s)
Celtis laevigata | Sugarberry
Cercis canadensis | American Redbud
Cupressus x chamaecyparis | Leyland Cypress
Eriobotrya japonica | Loquat
Fagus grandifolia | American Beech
Fraxinus sp. | White, Carolina, Green Ash
Ginkgo biloba | Ginkgo
Gordonia lasianthus | Loblolly Bay
Ilex vomitoria | Yaupon Holly
Juniperus virginiana | Eastern Red Cedar
Liriodendron tulipifera | Tulip Poplar
Magnolia virginiana | Sweetbay
Oxydendron arboreum | Sourwood
Pistacia chinensis | Chinese Pistache
Quercus acutissima | Sawtooth Oak
Quercus falcata | Southern Red Oak
Quercus laurifolia | Laurel Oak
Quercus lyrata | Overcup Oak
Quercus prinus | Chestnut Oak
Quercus shumardii | Shumard Oak
Quercus stellata | Post Oak
Sassafrass albidum | Sassafrass
Stewartia sp. | Stewartia
Styrax sp. | Snowbell
Ulmus parvifolia | Chinese Elm
Zelkova serrata | Japanese Zelkova
Category III (40 and above rating, 50% mitigation)
Aesculus pavia | Red Buckeye
Catalpa sp. | Catalpa
Celtis occidentalis | Hackberry
Diospyros virginiana | Persimmon
Gledistsia triacanthos | Honeylocust
Juglans nigra | Black Walnut
Paulownia tomentosa | Princess Tree
Platanus acerifolia | London Plane Tree
Platanus occidentalis | Sycamore
Prunus caroliniana | Carolina Cherry Laurel
Pyrus calleryana | Flowering Pear
Quercus bicolor | Swamp White Oak
Quercus coccinea | Scarlet Oak
Quercus nigra | Water Oak
Quercus palustris | Pin Oak
Ulmus alata | Winged Elm
Category IV (0 and above rating, 25% mitigation)
Ailanthus altissma | Tree of Heaven
Albizia julibrissin | Mimosa
Melia azedarach | Chinaberry
Morus sp. | Mulberry
Populus sp. | Poplar
Prunus serotina | Black Cherry
Prunus serrulata | Japanese Cherry
Quercus laevis | Turkey Oak
Robinia pseudoacacia | Black Locust
Salix sp. | Willow
Sapium sebiferum | Popcorn Tree
Tilia americana | American Linden
Ulmus americana | American Elm
c. Relocation of a Protected Tree. Relocation is accomplished by relocating the protected tree on land under the same ownership which is to be developed pursuant to the same development order.
d. Replacement. Replacement is accomplished by planting the number, size and species of a recommended tree in accordance with the conditions at the Board of Zoning Appeals—Site Design, on land under the same ownership which is to be developed pursuant to the same development permit, within the right-of-way adjacent to the property subject to the approval of the appropriate government agency, or off-site within the general area of the trees being replaced.
e. Tree Planting Requirements. In the relocation of a protected tree, or the replacement of a protected tree or grand tree with a recommended tree, the following planting criteria shall be met:
1. Each tree must be a minimum of two and one-half inches (2½″) caliper measured six inches (6″) above grade.
2. All trees used shall be vigorous, well shaped, branched and foliated;
3. All trees shall be planted in accordance with the specifications described in Section 1.94 of Erosion and Sediment Control Practices for Developing Areas by the South Carolina Land Resources Conservation Commission, Erosion and Sediment Control Division; and
4. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the recommended trees shall be of those species which will provide similar or better wildlife habitat, shade, erosion control or water purification as the existing species.
f. Inspection of Protected, Relocated or Replaced Trees. All relocated or replaced trees shall be inspected by the Zoning Administrator one (1) year after their planting to insure they are surviving in a healthy condition. Trees planted pursuant to this section that are found to be in declining condition shall be replaced by the owner of the parcel within thirty (30) days of notification from the Zoning Administrator. If replacement is necessary, there shall be a re-inspection six (6) months after the replacement planting.
g. Maintenance of Protected, Relocated or Replaced Trees. The owner of the parcel shall be responsible for the maintenance of all protected, grand, relocated or replaced trees.
(Ord. No. 1999-54, § 4, 4-27-99; Ord. No. 2000-10, § 2, 1-25-00; Ord. No. 2002-19, § 8, 2-12-02; Ord. No. 2012-375, § 2, 9-25-12)
Source: City of Charleston, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/zoning?nodeId=ART3SIRE_PT6TRPRRE_S54-331TRREREPLMAREFetched: 11/7/2026