It shall be unlawful for any person purposely or carelessly and without lawful authority to cut down, carry away, injure, break down, or destroy any fruit, ornamental, shade, or other tree or trees standing or growing on any land belonging to another person or persons or on any public land in the corporate limits. Any public service company desiring to trim or cut down any tree, except on property owned and controlled by it, shall make an application to the City Council to do so, and the written permit of the City Council in accordance with their decision to allow such an action shall constitute the only lawful authority on the part of the company to do so.
(`77 Code, § 6-305) Penalty, see § 10.99