Tree Ordinances - City of Grimes

City of Grimes
Tree Ordinances

CHAPTER 151

TREES

151.01 Definition 151.04 Trimming Trees to be Supervised
151.02 Planting Restrictions 151.05 Disease Control
151.03 Duty to Trim Trees 151.06 Inspection and Removal

151.01 DEFINITION. For use in this chapter, "parking" means that part of the street, avenue or highway in the City not covered by sidewalk and lying between the lot line and the curb line; or, on unpaved streets, that part of the street, avenue or highway lying between the lot line and that portion of the street usually traveled by vehicular traffic.

151.02 PLANTING RESTRICTED. No tree shall be planted on any parking or within ten (10) feet of the lot line of private property abutting any street.

151.03 DUTY TO TRIM TREES. The owner or agent of the abutting property shall keep the trees on, or overhanging the street, trimmed so that all branches will be at least thirteen (13) feet above the surface of the street and eight (8) feet above the sidewalks. If the abutting property owner fails to trim the trees, the City may serve notice on the abutting property owner requiring that such action be taken within five (5) days. If such action is not taken within that time, the City may perform the required action and assess the costs against the abutting property for collection in the same manner as a property tax.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.12[2c, d & e])

151.04 TRIMMING TREES TO BE SUPERVISED. Except as allowed in Section 151.03, it is unlawful for any person to trim or cut any tree in a street or public place unless the work is done under the supervision of the City. For the purposes of this section, the determination for supervision shall be based upon the location of the trunk of the tree.

151.05 DISEASE CONTROL. Any dead, diseased or damaged tree or shrub which may harbor serious insect or disease pest or disease injurious to other trees is hereby declared to be a nuisance.

151.06 INSPECTION AND REMOVAL. The Council shall inspect or cause to be inspected any trees or shrubs in the City reported or suspected to be infected with or damaged by any disease or insect or disease pests, and such trees and shrubs shall be subject to removal as follows:

1. Removal from City Property. If it is determined that any such condition exists on any public property, including the strip between the curb and the lot line of private property, and that danger to other trees within the City is imminent, the Council shall immediately cause such condition to be corrected by treatment or removal so as to destroy or prevent as fully as possible the spread of the disease or the insect or disease pests. The Council may also order the removal of any trees on the streets of the City which interfere with the making of improvements or with travel thereon.

2. Removal from Private Property. If it is determined with reasonable certainty that any such condition exists on private property and that the danger to other trees within the City is imminent, the Council shall immediately notify by certified mail the owner, occupant or person in charge of such property to correct such condition by treatment or removal within fourteen (14) days of said notification. If such owner, occupant or person in charge of said property fails to comply within fourteen (14) days of receipt of notice, the Council may cause the nuisance to be removed and the cost assessed against the property.