After more than two decades without a meaningful update, Gwinnett County’s tree ordinance was due for a refresh. As development pressures grew and public priorities shifted toward environmental preservation, county officials sought a data-driven policy that could strike a thoughtful balance between progress and canopy protection.
Client
Gwinnett County
Location
Gwinnett County, Georgia
Total Project Cost
$274k
Key Contact
Rebecca Keefer
Completed
2025
Services
Policy Development, GIS & Spatial Analysis, Canopy Assessment, Ordinance Development, Stakeholder Engagement
Our Placemaking Practice team led the charge, beginning with a comprehensive canopy assessment that compared 2005 and 2023 aerial data. This analysis provided more than just a snapshot of overall canopy loss, pinpointing where and why change occurred, identifying high-risk areas and tying patterns to land use trends, infrastructure investment and civic activity.
To further ground the policy in best practices, we crafted a benchmarking white paper that analyzed tree ordinances from peer communities across the country. These findings informed a suite of tailored policy recommendations designed to safeguard Gwinnett’s green character without stalling urban growth.
Ongoing engagement—including stakeholder workshops, targeted focus groups and deep collaboration with county staff and certified arborists—has helped shape a more enforceable and adaptable ordinance.
The draft places particular emphasis on protecting mature and specimen trees that define community identity and deliver lasting ecological value, while also simplifying requirements and improving clarity for developers and permit reviewers. Once adopted, the Gwinnett County tree ordinance will serve as a forward-thinking model of how data, public input and smart policy design can come together to promote sustainability and long-term resilience.
Beaver Ruin Park