It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm or city department to top a street tree, park tree or any other 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 as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Crown reduction, by a certified arborist may be substituted where appropriate. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, trees under utility wires or other obstructions where other practices are impractical may be exempted from this ordinance at the determination of the Greenscape Commission.
(Ord. 4, 2013, passed 5-6-13)