It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person to top any street, park or publicly owned tree on public property. Topping is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than three inches in diameter within the tree’s crown to such a degree so as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Crown reduction by a qualified arborist may be substituted, where appropriate. Trees severely damaged by storms or other cause, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions where pruning practices are impractical may be exempt from this subchapter at the determination of the Town of Ayden Manager or Director of Public Works and Utilities.
(Ord. 04-05-07, passed 11-8-04)