The Sept. 22 tree seminar will walk through the city's tree ordinance and urban forestry initiatives, including the review process for removing trees during property maintenance or development. According to the Appen Media report, the session is geared toward design professionals, arborists, tree removal companies and property owners.

The Sept. 29 session tackles the certificate of occupancy, the official document certifying that a building meets code requirements and is legally fit for people to occupy or use. The seminar will cover standard procedures for securing a CO and highlight common issues that delay approval. It targets contractors, tradespeople, homeowners and others involved in construction or development.

ICC credits and registration

International Code Council (ICC) continuing education credits will be provided at each session. Both seminars are free.

Registration for the tree seminar is available at sandyspringsga.gov, and the occupancy seminar at sandyspringsga.gov.

The seminars are part of the city's broader push to help residents and contractors navigate Sandy Springs' permitting and development rules. The Community Development department, led by Director Ginger Sottile, launched the free EasyBuild permitting program in April 2025 to simplify approvals for small accessory structures and decks. Sottile said at the time that the city's trees, waterways and terrain "… can also present design and regulatory challenges."

The tree and occupancy seminars are the next scheduled sessions in the Build Sandy Springs series.