Vegetation Maintenance Guidelines

Property owners need to keep their entire property (including the tree lawn and to the midpoint of the alley) managed. Features of a managed landscape:

• Free of noxious weeds, invasive plants or nuisance plants
• Free of debris
• Vegetation growth or turf grass is kept under 7 inches tall
• Managed natural landscapes may include plants and native grasses taller than 7 inches, as long as the landscape is: 
  • maintained (does not include unintended vegetation)
  • NOT turf-grass lawns left unattended for the purpose of returning to a natural state

The tree lawn is the area between the sidewalk and the street. For the safety of drivers, pedestrians and Fire Department officials, there are additional rules for this area.

• Vegetation kept 24 inches or shorter.
• Plants in the tree lawn not obstructing sight distance for cars, bicycles, or pedestrians.
• Plants not too high near intersections.
• Trim your trees if branches get too low; you need at least 8 feet of vertical clearance for streets, sidewalks and shared use paths.
• Vegetation should not spill over into the sidewalk, shared use paths or carriage walks.
• Street light poles, public utility poles, traffic signals, or street signs of any type kept clear of climbing or creeping vegetation.
• No vegetation higher than 7 inches in a 4 foot radius from all fire hydrants.

• Every 10 feet, there should be a 4 foot area with no vegetation higher than 12 inches. This is to allow people to get out on the passenger side of vehicles parked on the street.