Pueblo, CO Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Pueblo, CO, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Vehicle clearance
- 15 feet minimum
- Pedestrian clearance
- 8 feet minimum
- Topping
- Banned except limited cases
- Penalty
- Class 2 municipal offense
Summary
Pueblo prohibits "topping" trees and requires 15 feet of clearance over roadways and 8 feet over sidewalks for any tree overhanging a public way, enforced under the city's tree-care code.
It shall be unlawful for any person to cut or prune any tree except in conformity with standards hereinafter set forth; provided that nothing herein contained shall prohibit any owner from trimming or causing any tree upon his or her private property to be trimmed in any desired fashion:
(1)No tree shall be "topped" except in the process of removal of such tree, clearance of existing utility lines, interference with an existing building or the death or mutilation of that portion of such tree.(2)Maple, birch and walnut trees shall be pruned when in full leaf.(3)Upon the removal of any limb or branch, the final cut shall be made flush with the trunk or limb to avoid leaving a stub or projection of growth through which decay or rot may set in.(4)All cuts of one (1) inch diameter or greater shall be painted with a wound dressing approved by the Board of Tree Trimmer Examiners.(5)Trees growing over or upon the public way shall be so cut or pruned as to provide a minimum of fifteen (15) feet clearance over the surface of the public way for vehicular travel, and
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 109).
Full Breakdown
Pueblo Municipal Code § 10-2-7 sets binding standards for anyone who cuts, prunes or trims a tree in the city. Topping is banned except for removal, utility-line clearance, building interference or storm damage. Trees hanging over a public way must be cut back to give 15 feet of clearance for vehicles and 8 feet for pedestrians, and cuts of an inch or more must be wound-dressed. The clearance and no-topping rules apply to public-way trees; owners may still trim their own private trees however they wish. Violations are a Class 2 municipal offense under § 10-2-15, rising to Class 1 on a repeat conviction within three years.
Violations & Fines
Class 2 municipal offense under Pueblo Municipal Code § 10-2-15; a second violation within three years becomes a Class 1 municipal offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trim my own tree any way I want in Pueblo?
What clearance must a street tree keep over the road?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pueblo
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