A Tree Fell in the Street in Savannah. Who Do I Call, and Who Removes It?
Not legal advice. This page is general information drawn from the official sources cited below. Rules change, and your situation may differ. Confirm with the local government before acting, and talk to a Georgia attorney about your own case. Coastal Tree Guide is a free referral service, not a law firm, a government agency or a tree contractor.
Short answer: if anyone is hurt or trapped, or the tree is tangled in power lines, call 911. Treat any downed line as live and also report it to Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938.1 If there's no immediate danger, report the tree to whoever maintains the road:
- City of Savannah streets: call 311 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or use the City's online 311 form or the SAV311 app. After hours, call the City's 24-hour dispatch center at (912) 351-3434.2,3
- Unincorporated Chatham County roads (for example parts of Wilmington Island, Whitemarsh, Skidaway, Isle of Hope and Georgetown): use the My Chatham app or mychatham.chathamcountyga.gov.4
- Other cities (Pooler, Tybee Island, Garden City, Thunderbolt, Port Wentworth, Bloomingdale): Chatham County says to contact that municipality.4
- State highways: 511 Georgia, run by the Georgia DOT, takes calls 24 hours a day, and live operators can take incident reports.5
Step 1: is it an emergency?
- Power lines involved? Georgia Power says to always assume a downed line is live and life-threatening, keep people and pets away, and not try to remove tree limbs or anything else from a line. Call Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938, or the police or fire department, to have it barricaded.1
- In a car? Never drive over a downed line or under a low-hanging one. If a line falls on your car, Georgia Power says to stay inside and wait for help, unless the car catches fire.1
- Someone hurt, trapped, or caught in a line? Call 911. Don't try to pull a person or animal away from a power line.1
- Blocking emergency access? The Georgia Forestry Commission notes that downed trees on county and state roads can be reported to local officials, including the county emergency management agency. Private roads can count too when lives or property are in danger and emergency vehicles are blocked.6
Step 2: who maintains the road, and who removes the tree?
| Where the tree is | Who to contact | Who usually removes it |
|---|---|---|
| City of Savannah street, or a City street tree (often in the strip between the sidewalk and the curb) | 311 during business hours, the 311 form or SAV311 app, or (912) 351-3434 after hours2,3 | The City's Urban Forestry crews maintain trees on City right-of-way. Their listed services include hazard and emergency tree removal, "tree down/limb down," pruning and stump grinding.2 |
| Unincorporated Chatham County road | My Chatham app or mychatham.chathamcountyga.gov4 | Chatham County Public Works handles road maintenance,7 and after Hurricane Helene the County said its Public Works Department was clearing trees blocking the roadway.4 |
| Street in Pooler, Tybee, Garden City, Thunderbolt, Port Wentworth or Bloomingdale | That city or town4 | Set by each municipality. We haven't verified each town's road-clearing policy, so ask when you report it. |
| State highway | 511 (or 911 if it's dangerous)5 | Georgia DOT maintains state routes. We haven't verified GDOT's own tree-clearing policy, so let 511 route the report. |
| Tree on power or utility lines | Georgia Power, 1-888-891-0938 (911 if anyone is in danger)1 | Don't touch it. Only the utility should deal with anything in contact with a line.1 |
| Private road or HOA street | Your HOA or property manager. Call 911 if emergency access is blocked.6 | Usually the road's owner or the HOA. Check your community's rules. |
Public tree or private tree?
Who removes it, and who pays, often depends on whose tree it was, not where it landed.
- City trees: in the City of Savannah, the big oak between the sidewalk and the street is often on public right-of-way. To check, look up the parcel on the Chatham County Board of Assessors site or SAGIS maps.8,9
- Don't cut up a City tree yourself, or pay a crew to. The City's ordinance says no one may trim, prune or remove a tree on public property without the administrator's written approval. Removing or damaging right-of-way trees can mean paying the City for the tree's lost value, evaluation, stump removal, replacement and other costs.10 Report it and let the City handle it.
- Your own tree in the street: report it so the road can be cleared safely. The City says its Greenscapes Division doesn't pick up tree debris from private property.2 We couldn't find a published City or County policy on who pays to clear the street part of a privately owned tree, so ask when you call 311 or My Chatham. The part on your property is generally your responsibility.
- A public tree fell on your house or car: photograph everything first, then call your insurer. If you think the City or County is responsible, talk to a Georgia attorney promptly about how claims against a government work. If it was a neighbor's tree, see who pays when a neighbor's tree falls.
If you're tempted to clear it yourself
The Georgia Forestry Commission recommends homeowners tackle only minor debris. Its warnings:6
- Downed trees and branches lying across each other are often under tension and can snap violently when cut or moved.
- Historically, chainsaws have injured more people than the storms that brought the trees down. Never run one alone, and wear gloves, a face shield or goggles, hearing protection, a hard hat and chaps.
- Don't try to move trunks, large limbs, leaning trees or branches on roofs yourself. Call a certified arborist for major removal.
And never cut anything touching or near a power line.1
After the road is clear: debris
Follow your own government's pickup rules. After Hurricane Helene, Chatham County asked residents to put yard waste at the edge of the roadway, away from fire hydrants and utility meters, with trees cut into 4-foot sections.4 City rules can differ. Our storm damage cleanup guide has more.
Tree down on your property, not just the street? Coastal Tree Guide is a free referral service, not a tree contractor and not a government agency. Tell us what you need and we'll pass your request along to an independent local tree company serving your area, when one is available. Responses aren't guaranteed. Phone: (843) 608-8793
See also: emergency tree removal checklist · permit rules by jurisdiction · all homeowner questions
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call when a tree falls in the road in Savannah?
Call 911 if anyone is in danger or the tree is on power lines. Otherwise, for City of Savannah streets call 311 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or use the City's 311 form or SAV311 app. After hours, call the City's 24-hour dispatch center at (912) 351-3434.2,3
Who removes a fallen tree from a Chatham County road?
For unincorporated Chatham County, report it through the My Chatham app or mychatham.chathamcountyga.gov. County Public Works handles road maintenance. For roads inside Pooler, Tybee, Garden City and other cities, the County says to contact that municipality.4,7
A tree is down on power lines. What should I do?
Stay away and assume the line is live. Don't try to move limbs off it. Call Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938, or 911 if anyone is hurt or in danger.1
My tree fell into the street. Do I have to remove it?
Report it first so the road can be cleared safely. The part on your property is generally your responsibility, and the City of Savannah says it doesn't pick up tree debris from private property.2 We couldn't find a published policy on who pays for the part in the street, so ask the City or County when you report it.
Can I cut up a City tree that fell in front of my house?
Not without permission. Savannah's tree ordinance bars trimming, pruning or removing trees on public property without the City's written approval, and damage can require paying the City.10 Report it to 311 or the 24-hour dispatch at (912) 351-3434 instead.2
Is Coastal Tree Guide part of the City or County?
No. Coastal Tree Guide is an independent, free referral service for homeowners. We aren't a government agency or a tree contractor, and we can't dispatch City or County crews.
Sources
- Georgia Power, Power line safety. www.georgiapower.com
- City of Savannah, Urban Forestry (311 and 24-hour dispatch for right-of-way trees). savannahga.gov
- City of Savannah, 311 City Service Request Form (SAV311). www.savannahga.gov
- Chatham County, How to report fallen trees and yard debris (Hurricane Helene guidance). www.chathamcountyga.gov
- Georgia Department of Public Safety, Road Conditions (511 Georgia, operated by GDOT). dps.georgia.gov
- Georgia Forestry Commission, Natural Disaster Recovery (downed trees and debris). gatrees.org
- Chatham County Public Works and Park Services (road maintenance, yard waste). publicworks.chathamcountyga.gov
- Chatham County Board of Assessors (property records). boa.chathamcountyga.gov
- SAGIS, Savannah Area Geographic Information System (maps and jurisdiction layers). www.sagis.org
- City of Savannah, Landscape and Tree Protection Ordinance (approved March 16, 2017, PDF). www.savannahga.gov