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Does a Tree Service Need a License in Georgia?

Last reviewed October 22, 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Sources at the bottom

Not legal advice. This page summarizes Georgia and local government sources cited below, as we read them on October 22, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency named. Coastal Tree Guide is a free referral service, not a tree contractor and not a licensing agency. We don't license, certify or guarantee any company, so check the companies you hire yourself, using the steps below.

Short answer: Georgia has no state license for tree removal or tree trimming companies. The Georgia Attorney General's consumer protection office lists tree removal services among the specialty trades that the state doesn't require to be licensed.1 A 2024 state House study committee reached the same finding: no specific licensing or registration, no training standards and no insurance requirement for tree care providers.2 A bill to create a state license (HB 882) was filed in 2025 but didn't make it out of a House committee.3

That doesn't mean anything goes. A Savannah-area tree company still needs a local business license (a business tax certificate) where it operates,4,5 and it needs workers' compensation insurance if it has three or more employees.6 It also needs a state pesticide contractor license if it sprays or treats trees for pay,7 and it has to follow Georgia's 10-foot power line law.8 A few towns add their own rules, too.9,10

What a tree company around Savannah may need

RequirementWho it applies toHow to check
State tree-care or arborist licenseDoesn't exist in Georgia today.1,2Nothing to look up. Be wary of anyone who claims a "Georgia tree license" and can't tell you which agency issued it.
Local business license (business tax certificate or occupation tax certificate)Every business operating in the City of Savannah.4 In unincorporated Chatham County (for example Wilmington Island, Isle of Hope, Skidaway), a business needs a County business tax certificate within 30 days of starting.5 Other cities run their own programs (we haven't checked each town's rules; ask that city hall).Ask to see the certificate, then confirm it with the city or county office that issued it.11 City of Savannah Revenue: (912) 651-6445.12 Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services: (912) 201-4300.5
Registered business entityLLCs and corporations register with the Georgia Secretary of State. A sole proprietor may not show up there.Search the name in the Secretary of State's business search and check that the status is active.13,14
Workers' compensation insuranceMost employers with three or more full-time, part-time or seasonal employees. For an LLC or corporation, officers or members count toward the three even if they exempt themselves.6Search the company in the State Board of Workers' Compensation coverage lookup.6,15
General liability insuranceWe found no Georgia statute requiring it for tree services statewide (unverified), but Thunderbolt sets insurance minimums for tree contractors, and Garden City requires tree removal contractors to be licensed, bonded and insured.10,9 Georgia's consumer office and the Georgia Forestry Commission both say to ask for proof.11,16Ask for a current certificate of insurance and call the insurance carrier to confirm the policy is active.16
Pesticide contractor licenseAny business that applies pesticides, herbicides, insecticides or fungicides to someone else's property for a fee. The Department of Agriculture lists tree surgeons as an example.7Search active licensed pesticide contractors on the Department of Agriculture site.17
ISA Certified ArboristVoluntary. It's earned by an individual, not by a company, through an exam, and holders agree to a code of ethics.18 Savannah's tree ordinance relies on it for one thing: the hazard-tree exemption needs a written assessment from an ISA Certified Arborist that the City approves.19Ask for the arborist's name and certification number, then check them in ISA's credential lookup.20
Work within 10 feet of power linesAnyone working in their trade near lines over 750 volts. They must notify Georgia 811 at least 72 hours ahead (excluding weekends and holidays), and the utility has to guard the line before work starts.8Ask the company how it will handle the lines. Never trim near a line yourself.21

What "licensed and insured" usually means here

Many tree company websites around Savannah say they're "licensed and insured." Since Georgia has no state tree license,1 "licensed" usually means a local business tax certificate, or sometimes a pesticide license. That's worth having, but it isn't a test of tree skills. Ask two follow-up questions: "Which license, and which city or county issued it?" and "Can I have a copy of your liability and workers' comp certificates?" A company that does this every day can usually answer both on the spot.

The credential that does reflect tree knowledge is ISA certification, but it belongs to a person.18 If a company advertises a certified arborist, ask whether that person will look at your tree or be on the job.

How to check a tree company in about 15 minutes

  1. Look up the business. Search the name in the Georgia Secretary of State business search and note whether it's active and who the registered agent is.13,14
  2. Confirm the local business license. Ask for a copy and check it with the issuing office: the City of Savannah Revenue Department, Chatham County for unincorporated areas, or the town's city hall.11,12,5
  3. Check workers' comp. Use the State Board of Workers' Compensation lookup. If a business you believe needs coverage has none on record, the Board's Enforcement Division is at (404) 657-7285.6 The Georgia insurance commissioner's office also recommends verifying a certificate of insurance through the online portal rather than relying on the paper alone.15
  4. Verify liability insurance. Get a current certificate of insurance and call the carrier to confirm it's active. The Georgia Forestry Commission says this helps protect you from liability for injuries or property damage from the tree work.16
  5. Check credentials that are claimed. Look up any ISA Certified Arborist in ISA's lookup,20 and any spraying or injection license in the Department of Agriculture search.17
  6. Get it in writing. Get written estimates from more than one company.16,1 The contract should say when work starts and ends, who cleans up, the total price, and the rate for any extra work.16 Make sure it also says who pulls any permit. Rules differ by town; see our tree removal permit guide.
  7. Pay in stages. Georgia's consumer office says never to pay for a whole project before work begins, to consider no more than one-third down, and to hold the final payment until the job is done.1

After a storm: red flags from Georgia's consumer office

Hurricanes and tropical storms bring out-of-town "storm chasers" to coastal Georgia. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division warns about people who take up-front payments and disappear, charge exorbitant prices for tree removal, or offer to cover your insurance deductible.22 Its tips:

  • Avoid door-to-door offers; ask friends and neighbors for referrals.1
  • Steer clear of anyone who wants full payment up front, takes cash only, or won't give you a written contract.1
  • Any door-to-door sale must include written notice of your cancellation rights. If you're handed a tablet to sign, read it fully.22
  • Be skeptical of a bid that's far lower than the others, and of "we'll pay your deductible" offers. Talk to your insurer before committing to storm repairs.1 Our insurance and tree removal guide covers the claim steps.

If something goes wrong, you can contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at (404) 651-8600, or (800) 869-1123 toll-free in Georgia outside metro Atlanta.14

Will Georgia start licensing tree services?

Maybe in the future, but not yet. In December 2024, a Georgia House study committee recommended creating a license and regulatory program for the tree care industry, run by the Department of Agriculture.2 HB 882, filed in March 2025, would have created a Department of Agriculture license and rules for tree care operators.3 The General Assembly's site shows its last action as a House second reading on April 2, 2025, in the Regulated Industries committee.3 We haven't confirmed whether a similar bill will be filed for the 2027 session. Check legis.ga.gov for the current status.

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Frequently asked questions

Do tree removal companies need a license in Georgia?

Not a state license. Georgia's consumer protection office lists tree removal services among trades the state doesn't license, and a 2025 bill to create one (HB 882) didn't advance. Companies still need a local business license where they operate, and some towns, such as Garden City and Thunderbolt, add their own contractor rules.1,3,9,10

Is an ISA Certified Arborist the same as a license?

No. ISA certification is a voluntary credential an individual earns by exam, not a government license, and it belongs to the person, not the company. You can check a claimed certification in ISA's online lookup.18,20

How do I check if a tree company is insured in Georgia?

Ask for a current certificate of insurance and call the insurance carrier to confirm the policy is active. For workers' compensation, search the company in the State Board of Workers' Compensation online coverage lookup.16,6

Does a tree service in Georgia need workers' compensation insurance?

Most employers with three or more full-time, part-time or seasonal employees must carry it. For an LLC or corporation, officers or members count toward the three even if they exempt themselves.6

Does a tree company need a business license in Savannah?

Yes. Every business operating in the City of Savannah needs a current Business Tax Certificate. In unincorporated Chatham County, a business needs a County business tax certificate within 30 days of starting. You can confirm one with the City Revenue Department at (912) 651-6445 or Chatham County at (912) 201-4300.4,12,5

Can a tree company trim near power lines in Georgia?

Only after following the High-voltage Safety Act. Before any work that could come within 10 feet of a line over 750 volts, the company must notify Georgia 811 at least 72 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays, and the utility must guard the line first. Never trim near a line yourself.8,21

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Sources

  1. Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, Storms and Fraud. consumer.georgia.gov
  2. Georgia Recorder, Georgia state House panel recommends chipping away at lack of tree care licensing (Dec. 18, 2024). georgiarecorder.com
  3. Georgia General Assembly, HB 882 (2025-2026 session): regulation and licensing of tree care operators. www.legis.ga.gov
  4. City of Savannah, Business License (Business Tax Certificate; Revenue Department 912-651-6450). savannahga.gov
  5. Chatham County Building Safety & Regulatory Services, Business Tax (912-201-4300). buildingsafety.chathamcountyga.gov
  6. Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation, Online Employer's Workers' Compensation Coverage Verification. sbwc.georgia.gov
  7. Georgia Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Contractors. agr.georgia.gov
  8. Georgia 811, Georgia High-voltage Safety Act text, O.C.G.A. 46-3-30 to 46-3-40 (PDF). www.georgia811.com
  9. Garden City zoning code Ch. 90 Art. VIII, text copy (Zoneomics). www.zoneomics.com
  10. Town of Thunderbolt Code Sec. 5-329, tree ordinance (copy hosted by the Savannah Tree Foundation, PDF). www.savannahtree.org
  11. Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, Home Repairs and Improvements. consumer.georgia.gov
  12. City of Savannah, Business Tax Renewal (Business Tax Specialist 912-651-6445). www.savannahga.gov
  13. Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division business search. ecorp.sos.ga.gov
  14. Consumer Ed (Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division), How can I verify that a contractor is licensed and insured? (Dec. 13, 2023). consumered.georgia.gov
  15. Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, How to verify workers compensation coverage. oci.georgia.gov
  16. Georgia Forestry Commission, Certified Tree Professionals (tips for selecting and contracting with an arborist). gatrees.org
  17. Georgia Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Pest Control Search (active licensed pesticide contractors). agr.georgia.gov
  18. International Society of Arboriculture, ISA Certified Arborist credential. www.isa-arbor.com
  19. City of Savannah, Landscape and Tree Protection Ordinance (approved March 16, 2017, PDF). www.savannahga.gov
  20. ISA (TreesAreGood.org), Verify an arborist credential. www.treesaregood.org
  21. Georgia Power, Power line safety. www.georgiapower.com
  22. Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, consumer alert on price gouging and storm scams (Jan. 23, 2026). consumer.georgia.gov