To preserve the quality of life and ensure public safety, minimum standards for the maintenance and removal of trees are established by ordinance. Ordinances set a minimum height for tree limbs above right of ways and require the removal of hazard trees.
To preserve the quality of life and ensure public safety, minimum standards for the maintenance and removal of trees are established by ordinance. Ordinances set a minimum height for tree limbs above right of ways and require the removal of hazard trees.
In order to ensure unrestricted use by the public of right of way areas, tree limbs overhanging public streets, sidewalks, or paths must be maintained and trimmed to a minimum height above such ways. Limbs overhanging sidewalks may be no lower than 10 feet in height and limbs overhanging streets may be no lower than 13 feet in height. Limbs that overhang both a street and a sidewalk may be no lower than 13 feet in height.
Hazard trees, as identified by the City Forester, must be removed. Following removal of any hazardous tree, City ordinance also requires appropriate storage or disposal of all yard waste. A hazard tree is any tree which has structural defects in the roots, stem, or branches that may cause the tree or tree part to fail, and such failure may cause property damage or personal injury. Branches hanging in a precarious manner, either above right of ways or neighboring structures are hazards and may be ordered to be removed by City Staff.
Please contact City Forester, Jeff Kehrer at 952.953.2461 with any questions regarding tree maintenance, disease, or hazard trees. To report a hazard tree contact Ben Pierson in Code Enforcement at 952.953.2571, or by email bpierson@ci.apple-valley.mn.us.