Does the city trim or remove trees in between the sidewalk and curb?
Generally speaking, the City of Arlington does not maintain the area between the curb and sidewalk. The City does not maintain trees on residential streets, trees in front of homes or businesses, or trees planted by any party other than the City of Arlington. Trees between the curb and the property line are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner unless explicitly maintained or planted by the City of Arlington. Tree planting between the curb and the property line is therefore at the discretion of the adjacent property owner, please see below for more information regarding tree planting. Each area is different, so you may need to contact us if you are unsure about a specific area.
Who is responsible for pruning trees over roads or sidewalks?
According to the Code of Ordinances, limbs must be 7 feet above sidewalks and 14 feet above roads, the owner of the land where the tree is located is responsible for pruning to maintain that safety clearance. In the case of trees on city-maintained medians and rights-of-way the city will prune trees to maintain this clearance. Please bring these issues to our attention using the Ask Arlington website or mobile app. For tree related issues, please select "Overhanging Tree Limbs on a Property" if the tree appears to be on private property and use "Tree Maintenance-City Property" if the tree is on a median or right-of-way.
I see a tree I think is unsafe or dead, who should I talk to?
For trees on private property, Code Compliance enforces removal of hazardous trees. For trees on city property, we will determine if the tree is unsafe or needs to be removed. The City does not remove healthy trees for convenience. Please contact the Action Center to have the issue reported to the appropriate department.
Who is responsible for pruning limbs over my property?
Limbs over a property are entirely the responsibility of that landowner, the owner of the land where the tree is located is not responsible for pruning limbs that contact buildings or hang over driveways. Hazard situations may require tree maintenance by the tree owner. Please contact the Action Center to speak with Code Compliance about this issue.
Are there limitations on tree removal in Arlington?
In some cases, trees on private property are protected and require approval or mitigation for removal. Please contact the Action Center to speak with Community Development and Planning. Trees located on property boundaries require approval by both parties for a tree to be removed. In some cases, trees bordering City of Arlington property may be permitted to be removed by the adjacent owner.
Are there limitations on tree planting in Arlington?
Trees may be planted anywhere on private property, but to prevent issues which result in costs to the owner and the public, please follow these guidelines:
- Trees should not be planted within 2 feet of a sidewalk or within 6 feet of the curb if there is no existing sidewalk.
- Trees should not be planted directly under power lines or overhead cables and only small small trees should be planted in the vicinity of power lines.
- Avoid planting trees directly on property lines, doing so could be considered encroachment and may cause legal issues in the future.
Is the City's tree inventory data available to the public?
Yes, the data can be provided to researchers or interested individuals. In addition to the UFORE analysis, which provides insights into Arlington's Urban Forest, we have an extensive inventory of city-owned trees. We hope to make this data available through the City's online GIS system in the future.