Tree Establishment Bond - City of Augusta, GA in Georgia

Brief Summary

This bond is what stands between a finished Augusta project and its Certificate of Occupancy. It runs three years, so price it as a three year commitment, and keep the trees alive, because the city only releases it when they pass inspection.

Augusta's Tree Ordinance requires a three year Tree Establishment Bond, posted with the Augusta Planning and Development Department before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. The city's building requirements page sets it at $500 per required tree, and it must be in place before you request the landscaping compliance inspection. The bond is released after three years once staff find the required trees healthy and likely to survive to maturity.

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How to Apply for a Tree Establishment Bond:

• Count the trees your approved planting or mitigation plan requires.
• Confirm with Augusta Planning and Development which amount basis applies to your site.
• Have the property owner or developer entity name exactly as it appears on the permit.
• Obtain the three year bond and post it with the Augusta Planning and Development Department.
• Post it before requesting the landscaping compliance inspection and before the Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
• Maintain the trees through the three year period and the 30 month inspection.

Detailed Information About the Georgia Tree Establishment Bond:

It is a three year bond, posted before the CO

Developers often treat this as a quick final filing. It is not. Section 8-4-15 of the Augusta Tree Ordinance calls for a three year Tree Establishment Bond posted with the Augusta Planning and Development Department prior to issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. The city's Building and Tree Minimum Requirements page adds that it must be posted before you request the landscaping compliance inspection.

How the amount is figured

The city's building page and the 2022 Illustrated Guide to Implementing the Augusta Tree Ordinance both state $500 per required tree. Trees in a variance mitigation package under Section 8-4-14 are also bonded at $500 per tree. The ordinance text in Section 8-4-15 describes the amount as the contract award for landscaping or an amount set by the Planning and Development Department, whichever is higher. Ask the department which figure it will apply to your site before the bond is written.

Release and forfeiture

After thirty months, staff inspect the site to see whether required trees were removed, are unhealthy or lost canopy, and whether they have a reasonable chance of surviving to maturity. With a favorable finding, the bond is released at the end of the three year period. Without one, it is not released. If the owner or developer does not fix the problem within sixty days of written notice, the city uses the bond to the extent needed to bring the property into compliance.

When no bond is required

Under Section 8-4-14, a developer granted a variance can choose to pay into the Tree Mitigation Fund instead of planting. When the fee option is chosen, neither a Tree Establishment Bond nor a Maintenance Agreement is required. Deferred planting is handled separately through a Performance Guarantee.

Eligibility and Requirements for a Georgia Tree Establishment Bond:

• Posted with the Augusta Planning and Development Department.
• Three year term under Augusta Tree Ordinance Sec. 8-4-15.
• $500 per required tree per the city building requirements page, or the amount the department sets.
• Released only after staff find the trees healthy and likely to survive to maturity.
• Subject to use by the city if deficiencies are not corrected within sixty days of written notice.

Georgia Tree Establishment Bond FAQs:

Official and Additional Resources for the Georgia Tree Establishment Bond: