It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm or city department to top any street tree, park tree or 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. Trees severely damaged by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or where root structure may damage underground utilities or other obstructions, where other pruning practices are impractical, may be exempted from this chapter at the determination of the Urban Forestry Committee. Public utilities should take all deliberate efforts to allow all street trees growing under utility lines to proceed with normal growth patterns before engaging in any necessary pruning.
(1999 Code, § 99.03) (Ord. 1889, passed 12-16-1996) Penalty, see § 10.99