Brooklyn Park, MN Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 97.40(B), Private Tree Planting/Maintenance
- Sidewalk clearance
- 8 feet minimum above sidewalk
- Street clearance
- 19 feet minimum above street
- Hazard duty
- Remove dead/diseased/broken limbs
- City backstop
- City may trim encroaching private trees
Summary
In the City of Brooklyn Park, § 97.40(B) requires every owner of a tree, plant or shrub overhanging or bordering a street, right-of-way or sidewalk to prune it clear of streetlights and intersection sightlines, keeping eight feet of clearance above a sidewalk and 19 feet above a street; owners must also remove dead, diseased or dangerous limbs that threaten public safety.
(B) Pruning and corner clearance. Every owner of any tree, plant and shrub overhanging or bordering any street or right-of-way including sidewalks within the city shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet above the surface of the sidewalk and 19 feet above the surface of the street. Said owner shall remove all dead, diseased, or dangerous trees, plants, and shrubs or broken or decayed limbs that constitute a menace to the safety of the public. If private trees encroach in the right-of-way, the city may trim private trees so they meet the above listed requirements.
Full Breakdown
40(B), in the private tree planting and maintenance section of Chapter 97, puts the pruning duty for street-facing trees on the property owner, not the city. Any tree, plant or shrub overhanging or bordering a street or right-of-way, including a sidewalk, must be pruned so its branches do not block the light from a street lamp or obstruct the view of a street intersection, and so a clear space remains: eight feet above the sidewalk and 19 feet above the street surface. The same subsection requires the owner to remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, plants and shrubs, and any broken or decayed limbs, that constitute a menace to public safety, whether or not they overhang the right-of-way.
If a private tree grows into the right-of-way and the owner does not bring it into compliance, the city may step in and trim it itself to meet the same clearance standards. 1007, and they must keep a five-foot clear zone around fire hydrants under the Uniform Fire Code. 40(C). 99.
Violations & Fines
Letting a tree, shrub or plant overhang a street or sidewalk without the required eight-foot sidewalk clearance or 19-foot street clearance, or leaving dead, diseased or broken limbs that threaten public safety, violates § 97.40(B). The city may trim an encroaching private tree itself, and noncompliance is punishable under the general § 10.99 penalty: up to $1,000 and 90 days as a misdemeanor, or up to $300 as a petty misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must my tree branches be over the sidewalk in Brooklyn Park?
Who trims trees that block the street in front of my house?
Do I have to remove a dead tree branch near the street in Brooklyn Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brooklyn Park
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle tree trimming.