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Tree Rules in Pell City and St. Clair County, AL

Does Pell City make you get a permit before cutting down a tree? For an ordinary tree on an existing house lot, no rule requiring one turned up in Pell City, Moody, Odenville or unincorporated St. Clair County (checked Nov 12, 2026). The rules that do matter are the exceptions: Alabama Power's controls on Logan Martin's shoreline, Pell City's ordinance on where a tree crew's limbs can go and how big a homeowner's brush pile can be, road rights-of-way, state burning law, and Springville, whose 2006 tree ordinance couldn't be read and is worth a call to the city.

Yard tree permits, town by town

This is what the codes and city pages read for this site showed. "Not found" means the posted rules were read and had no homeowner tree permit, not that a city has promised there's none.

Homeowner tree permits for an existing house lot (checked Nov 12, 2026 unless noted)
WhereWhat was foundWho to ask
Pell CityNot found. The posted Land Use Regulations (2022 update) have no tree removal permit, tree protection, specimen tree or replacement rule for single-family lots, and the city code has no tree chapter (Supp. No. 8, codified through Ord. No. 2025-132; read Nov 12, 2026)City Hall, 205-338-2244; inspections@pellcity.gov
MoodyNot found in the zoning code, read from a third-party copy; its buffer rules come into play with site development plans and building permit applicationsCity Hall, (205) 640-5121
OdenvilleNot found. The city's ordinance page lists no tree ordinance, and its 2019 development regulations don't use the word "tree"City, 205-629-6366
SpringvilleUnclear. The zoning ordinance takes in "Guidelines for Tree Conservation and Landscape Planting," adopted February 6, 2006 (Ordinance No. 2006-04), whose text couldn't be foundThe City of Springville, before cutting
Unincorporated county (Cropwell, Wattsville, Coosa Island, Chula Vista, much of the lake)Not found. The state's compilation of St. Clair County local laws has no law on trees, timber, clearing, burning or Logan Martin LakeCounty Commission, 205-594-2100
Ashville, Riverside, Margaret, Ragland, Argo, SteeleNot researched for this siteTown hall

Wherever the lot is, Alabama Power's shoreline rules apply on its land along Logan Martin and Neely Henry. Those come next.

Logan Martin's shoreline

Alabama Power owns the land under and along Logan Martin Lake. Its guidelines put the lake's full summer pool at 465 feet above sea level, with the company owning land from there up to as high as 473 feet and holding a flood easement up to as high as 490 feet, depending on location (revised July 15, 2025, checked Nov 12, 2026). Many lake homeowners don't own the strip right at the water.

On that land, a permittee must keep a natural vegetative buffer at least 15 feet wide, measured from the top of full pool. No construction or related activity may happen in it without Alabama Power's prior written authorization, and the activities it lists as not permitted include "removing any tree measuring more than three inches in diameter" and clearing shrubs taller than 4 feet. The guidelines state no exception for dead or hazard trees, and elsewhere they say "Verbal approval is not sufficient." Call the Logan Martin Lake Office at 205-472-0481 (checked Nov 12, 2026). The lake lot guide covers the details.

Inside Pell City's zoning ordinance

The version this site could read is the city's zoning ordinance posted as the Land Use Regulations 2022 update, last revised April 4, 2022. Its tree-related pieces apply to development, not to a homeowner taking down a tree:

  • Buffer yards (Sec. 601) are required on development projects that abut a different zoning district. A structural buffer needs at least one tree for every 20 feet of its length.
  • Planned residential developments (Sec. 1008.1) may not destroy trees on city right-of-way.
  • Corner sight lines (Sec. 609) do reach house lots: in any residence district, no fence, wall, structure or planting that blocks visibility may be kept within 25 feet of a street intersection.
  • A "woodland" is defined, but no rule about clearing one was found. The text has no Logan Martin or shoreline provisions.

The city is working on edits. Its Planning and Zoning page lists an executive summary of completed edits to the Land Use Regulations, marked as a draft, a revised notice of second publication for the zoning ordinance, and a land use publication dated July 2, 2026 (checked Nov 12, 2026). The ordinances the city has posted for 2026 don't include a new zoning ordinance (Agendas, Minutes & Ordinances, checked Nov 12, 2026). Whether a revised ordinance has been adopted, and whether it adds anything about trees or clearing, couldn't be confirmed for this site. If you're clearing more than a yard tree or two, ask Planning and Zoning at 205-338-2244. The Planning Commission meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1905 1st Avenue North.

Limbs at the curb in Pell City

A neat pile of cut limbs at the edge of the street in front of a brick ranch house
Cut limbs stacked neatly at the edge of the street in front of a brick ranch house.

Pell City's garbage ordinance, No. 2017-4778, adopted July 24, 2017, is the local rule most likely to affect a tree job. Its key lines:

  • Tree crews can't use the curb. Section 25(b) makes it unlawful for any tree removal contractor or landscaper to leave tree or limb removal debris at the curb for the city to remove.
  • The city won't collect it anyway. Section 26 says the city doesn't collect tree limbs and trimmings from land clearing or from tree service contractors, or material from work done by a contractor.
  • Homeowner limbs have a size limit. Section 25(a): limbs and shrub clippings cut to 5 feet or less, placed between the sidewalk and the curb or another spot the city's hauler approves.
  • And a placement rule. Not between utility poles and their support cables, under trees or low wires, on or next to fire hydrants, or against fences or buildings.
  • Leaves and grass go in containers or tied bags (Section 23).
  • Penalty. A misdemeanor with a fine of $50 to $200, and each day's violation counts separately (Section 30).

The city's Solid Waste Disposal page fills in the pickup itself (checked Nov 12, 2026). Meridian Waste collects brush every other week on your garbage day. Up to 6 cubic yards may go out each two-week period, roughly a pile 9 feet long, 6 feet wide and 3 feet high, with every limb under 5 feet long and under 6 inches thick. Material from a construction firm, contractor, landscaper or tree service isn't accepted, nor is material from clearing a lot, and a pile can be skipped if it's judged to be contractor-generated or sits too close to mailboxes, cars, fences or poles. The city's drop-off site for residents takes no brush or yard debris. Service costs $25.24 a month.

Outside city limits, Pell City's page sends people to Arrow Disposal Services, and Meridian Waste's St. Clair County page lists tree branches among the yard waste it handles, without size limits. Odenville's garbage service is run by Waste Management; its limb rules aren't posted. Rules in Moody, Springville, Ashville, Riverside and Margaret weren't researched for this site.

Roads, rights-of-way and wires

  • County roads. The St. Clair County Engineer and Road Department, at 31588 Highway 231 in Ashville, posts a permit form for work in county right-of-way. Call 205-594-2190 or email engineering@stclairco.com before cutting a tree that stands along a county road (checked Nov 12, 2026).
  • Pell City streets. The Street Department is at (205) 884-8267 (checked Nov 12, 2026).
  • State highways. ALDOT's main line is (334) 353-6554. Its rules for tree work in a state right-of-way weren't confirmed for this site, so ask before cutting beside a state route.
  • Power lines. Alabama Power generally maintains a 30-foot-wide easement along neighborhood distribution lines and says an unqualified person should not work within 10 feet of lines under 50,000 volts (checked Nov 12, 2026).

Burning brush

Three layers of state rules apply, and towns can add their own.

Alabama Forestry Commission permits. The Forestry Commission says Alabama law (§ 9-13-11) requires a permit from it to conduct a prescribed burn, that a fire under a quarter of an acre doesn't need one, and that permits are issued by calling its dispatch center at (800) 392-5679. The statute makes it a Class B misdemeanor to burn new ground, fields, grasslands or woodlands in areas under organized forest fire protection without a permit number, and during a fire alert declared by the State Forester, permits are issued only at the State Forester's discretion. The Commission's page reminds people that county and city laws may also limit burning (checked Nov 12, 2026).

ADEM's open-burning rule. For land-clearing and vegetation burning, Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-3-3-.01 requires (checked Nov 12, 2026):

  • burning on the property where the material came from;
  • at least 500 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling;
  • starting the fire between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., and adding nothing between 3 p.m. and 8 a.m. the next day;
  • only vegetation and untreated wood; and
  • someone attending the fire at all times.

The rule bans this kind of burning from May through October in a list of counties that includes Jefferson, Shelby, Etowah and Talladega. St. Clair isn't on the list. ADEM's handout on vegetation disposal names the alternatives: hauling it to a landfill that ADEM allows to take it, or letting it decompose. ADEM's Air Division answers at (334) 271-7879 or (334) 271-7897.

Drought emergencies. When the Forestry Commission declares a drought emergency in a county, Ala. Code § 9-13-141 makes it unlawful there to set fire to any forest, grass, woods, wildlands or marshes. In October 2016, a drought emergency declaration banned outdoor burning in 46 north and central Alabama counties (USDA Forest Service).

Towns. Moody's inspections office enforces outdoor burning rules under the 2021 International Fire Code; call (205) 640-0310 (checked Nov 12, 2026). No Pell City burning ordinance turned up for this site, so ask City Hall before lighting a pile inside city limits.

Digging and stump grinding

Alabama 811 asks for notice at least 2 to 10 full working days before you dig and says locate requests are required by law before excavation (checked Nov 12, 2026). A stump grinder works below grade, so the request belongs before grinding. Details are in the stump grinding guide.

Neighbors, associations and property lines

Under Ala. Code § 35-14-1, someone who willfully and knowingly cuts trees on land that isn't theirs without the owner's consent owes the owner $20 for each tree of the listed species, which include oaks and pines, and $10 for other trees (2025 Code of Alabama, checked Nov 12, 2026). Before cutting along a line, be sure where the line is.

Homeowners associations in lake and newer subdivisions may have covenants of their own, and Alabama Power's shoreline permit application asks for any applicable subdivision architectural review or HOA approvals. Read the covenants before booking the work.

Permit questions people ask in Pell City

Is a permit needed to take down a big oak in my backyard in Pell City?

None turned up in the city's posted zoning ordinance or code for an existing house lot (checked Nov 12, 2026). If the oak is on a lake lot within 15 feet of full pool on Alabama Power's land, that's a different answer.

I live in Springville. Is it the same?

Maybe not. Springville's zoning ordinance includes 2006 tree conservation guidelines whose text couldn't be read for this site. Ask the city before cutting.

Can I pay the tree company less if they leave the brush for city pickup?

No. In Pell City that's unlawful for the contractor under Ordinance 2017-4778, and the city's hauler won't take it (checked Nov 12, 2026).

Can I burn the limbs in my backyard?

State law sets the outer limits above. The Forestry Commission says a fire under a quarter of an acre needs no permit from it, but ADEM's vegetation burning rule requires 500 feet from the nearest occupied home, and towns can add rules. Ask your city first.

Who do I call if I'm unsure?

Pell City Planning and Zoning, 205-338-2244; Moody City Hall, (205) 640-5121; Odenville, 205-629-6366; the County Commission, 205-594-2100; Alabama Power's Logan Martin Lake Office, 205-472-0481 (all checked Nov 12, 2026).

This site follows the rules above but doesn't apply for anything or do tree work. A request sent from it reaches one independent contractor who works in St. Clair County.

Source notes

Got a tree in St. Clair County that needs to come down or be cut back?

Phone the number or fill in the request form. It reaches one independent contractor who works around Pell City, who comes to see the tree in person and puts a price in writing.

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