When it is worth it
- A large tree within reach of the house shows one of the warning signs.
- A storm cracked limbs or loosened roots, even if the tree is standing.
- Someone trenched, paved or built near the tree in the last few years.
- The crown is thinning, leaves turn early, or bark is coming off.
- You need to know whether a tree can stay before you renovate or sell.
- A permit or a neighbor needs a professional’s word in writing.
Who does it
The International Society of Arboriculture certifies arborists by examination and continuing education, and recommends checking for that credential, along with insurance, before hiring. Georgia does not license tree work, so certification is one of the few independent checks there is. DeKalb County relies on it too: its homeowner guide accepts a risk assessment by an ISA Certified Arborist, an American Society of Consulting Arborists registered consulting arborist, or a registered or urban forester as grounds to remove a dead, diseased or hazardous tree without filing a notice.
What they look at
DeKalb’s guide prints the evaluation checklist: root anchorage and damage, the trunk’s soundness, cracks and cavities, how limbs are attached, dead wood, the vigor of the twigs and the color and size of the leaves, and signs of insects and disease. Expect the arborist to walk around the tree, look up into the crown, and sound the trunk or dig at the root flare. For a big decision, some offer a written report or a formal risk assessment.
The city’s inspection in Atlanta
Inside the City of Atlanta, a dead, dying or hazardous tree must be inspected by the city’s Arborist Division before it comes down, and the city does not charge for the inspection or the report. The city arborist decides whether the tree may be removed; that inspection is not advice on how to care for it. For care, a private arborist is the one to ask.
What you get
An honest assessment can end in any of these: remove it, prune it, cable it, treat it, or leave it alone. Ask for the reasons with the recommendation.
Checked against the sources below on 2026-10-11.