One crossroads, three cities, three tree codes

Tree Service in Crabapple, GA

Which city your address is in decides which permit rules apply.

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Start With the City Limits

Tree Service in Crabapple begins with a question about city limits. Crabapple is a historic crossroads at Georgia 140 and 372, sometimes called the Silos area, and the community is split among three cities: Milton, Roswell and Alpharetta. A portion became part of Milton when that city incorporated in 2006. Three cities means three tree codes, and they are not the same.

Three sets of rules

Milton: A permit is required on residential lots for any tree 15 inches DBH or larger, small canopy trees such as dogwood and redbud from 8 inches, and any tree in a buffer. Applications go to the City Arborist.
Roswell: Non-specimen trees can be removed without a permit from a residential lot under one acre. Specimen trees, starting at 8 inches for small trees like dogwood and 20 inches for oaks and hickories, need a permit from Roswell Engineering.
Alpharetta: Most removals go through Community Development review at no charge. Dead trees on single-family detached lots and trees in imminent danger can come down without a permit.

Your property tax bill shows which city you are in. Mailing address alone can be misleading here.

A crossroads with old trees

The first permanent settlement at Crabapple was made in 1874, and the community was named for a crabapple tree near the original town site. An historic brick building anchors the intersection of Crabapple Road, Mayfield Road, Birmingham Road and Broadwell Road, and the Old Times at Crabapple Antique Festival is held each May and October. The area began as Cherokee County land, became part of Milton County in 1857, and joined Fulton County in 1932.

Around the old crossroads, older homes and farm properties have big oaks, cedars and pecans along fence lines and roads. Newer neighborhoods built around them often kept a ring of mature trees. That mix means most Crabapple jobs are a combination: one or two big removals, a lot of pruning, and stump grinding afterward.

Fence-line cedars and roadside oaks

Older farm properties around Crabapple often have eastern red cedars along old fence lines and big oaks along the roads. Cedars tolerate a lot but get crowded and shaded out over time, and roadside oaks often have roots damaged by road widening and new driveways. Those trees tend to decline slowly, so periodic checks catch problems before a big limb falls on a road or fence.

Typical Crabapple work

Pruning old roadside and fence-line trees
Removing dead or storm-damaged trees, with the right city's permit
Raising limbs over long drives
Stump grinding and cleanup

Call (770) 758-8959 or send the form with your address. We will tell you which city's rules apply and give you a written estimate.

Crabapple Facts

Split community. Crabapple is divided among Milton, Roswell and Alpharetta, centered on the crossroads of Georgia Highways 140 and 372, also called the Silos area.
Milton's rule. On the Milton side, a tree removal permit is required on residential lots for trees 15 inches DBH and larger and for small canopy trees from 8 inches.
Roswell's exemption. On the Roswell side, non-specimen trees can be removed without a permit from residential lots under one acre; specimens need a permit.
Named for a tree. The first permanent settlement was made in 1874, and the community takes its name from a crabapple tree near the original town site.

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Crabapple Questions

How do I know which city my Crabapple home is in?

Check your property tax bill or the county's property records. Mailing addresses here do not always match city limits.

Which city has the strictest rules?

It depends on the tree. Milton's 15-inch threshold catches many large trees; Roswell lets owners of small residential lots remove non-specimens freely; Alpharetta reviews most removals but charges no fee.

Can you prune the old trees along my fence line?

Yes. Pruning dead and low limbs on old roadside and fence-line trees is common work here.

Does a tree on the line between two cities follow both sets of rules?

Each tree follows the rules of the city where it stands. If yours is near a city line, check which side the trunk is on.

Do you work in the Silos area and around the old crossroads?

Yes. We cover the whole Crabapple area, including the old crossroads, nearby farm properties and the newer neighborhoods around them.

What happens at the estimate?

We walk the property with you, identify each tree, measure trunks where a permit might apply, and send a written estimate with the work and price for each tree.

Free Estimates in Crabapple, GA

Free estimates in Crabapple, whichever city your address is in.

Call (770) 758-8959 Free Estimate