It depends on the lease and on why the tree needs to come down, but the landlord is the starting point. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-13 says “the landlord must keep the premises in repair,” and a tree that’s a hazard to the house may be treated as a repair question for the owner. Georgia doesn’t have a statute saying who pays for tree removal, though, so the lease and the facts still decide it.
Work through it in this order:
- Read the lease. A single-family lease may put yard care on the tenant. Mowing and shrubs aren’t the same as taking down a large tree, but the words control.
- Ask who caused it. If a tenant damaged the tree, say by cutting roots while digging, the landlord may look to the tenant.
- Give written notice. Text or email the owner or manager with a photo. Notice matters, since a landlord’s duty to repair depends on knowing about the problem.
If the tree falls on the tenant’s belongings, that’s a separate question. The tenant’s own renters policy may be the first place to look. If it hurts someone, O.C.G.A. § 44-7-14 keeps a landlord who has given up possession responsible for “defective construction” or “failure to keep the premises in repair,” so knowledge of a dying tree may matter.
Don’t withhold rent or pay a crew yourself without getting the arrangement in writing. Georgia’s rules on repair-and-deduct are specific, and a housing lawyer or legal aid office can tell you what applies.
General information about Georgia law as of November 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.