Ordinance Control of Street Trees

Abstract

An important part of county or municipal code is the ordinance that provides for the planting and maintenance of street trees. Regardless of who conceives it or draws it up, a tree ordinance is, in effect, a manifesto from the citizens specifying to the public officials the manner in which the street trees in their community should be planted and maintained. The beauty and comfort of the community, which an affective tree ordinance can help to assure, is undeniably, the basis for which it is brought into existence. Usually few residents are well informed about street trees and so, advisedly, the drafting of such an important part of the code is carried out under the guidance of certain public officials. Currently, numerous cities and counties, through their public officials, are interested either in up-dating their tree ordinance or in adopting one for the first time. In doing so it is common practice to search other ordinances for sections worthy of inclusion in their own.