It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation to top any street tree, park tree or other tree on public property. TOPPING is defined as 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. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility lines or other obstructions where other pruning practices are impractical, may be exempt from this section.
(Prior Code, § 37-1-7) Penalty, see § 156.99