Harford County, MD Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

The Director of the Department of Public Works inspects for trees, bushes, vines, weeds, undergrowth, loose earth or similar growth on private property that obstructs the vision of drivers on any county road badly enough to create a traffic hazard. Under § 225-3(A), the Director must serve the owner, agent or lessee a written notice describing the premises, the particulars of the obstruction, the steps needed to fix it, and an order to complete corrective steps within a stated period. Anyone aggrieved by the order has 5 days from receiving it to petition the Director in writing for a hearing; the Director must hold that hearing within 7 days of the petition and may affirm, modify or rescind the order, per § 225-3(B).

No county official may remove the obstruction or enforce the order until that hearing occurs or the 5-day window lapses without a petition. Service is by registered mail or personal delivery, or by newspaper publication plus posting on the premises if the responsible person cannot be located, under § 225-3(C). If the owner still has not complied by the deadline in the order, § 225-4(A) lets the Director send crews onto the property to remove as much of the obstruction as necessary to eliminate the hazard.

The Director then files a certified cost statement with the County Treasurer along with proof the notice was served; that removal cost, plus the cost of any publication, becomes a lien against the property collected the same way as county real estate taxes (§ 225-4(B)).