Birmingham, ALA. — The Birmingham City Council has approved a sweeping update to the city’s tree ordinance — a law that regulates how trees on public property are planted, maintained, and removed.
The measure, informally known as “Abbott’s Law,” passed unanimously on Oct. 21, 2025. It reactivates the City’s Tree Commission and gives it new authority to oversee urban forestry efforts across Birmingham.
“When I first came in, I tried to get the tree commission changed — and here we are 24 years later,” Councilor Valerie Abbott said. Abbott, who sponsored the ordinance, has pushed for stronger tree protections for decades…