Buffalo, NY Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Section 309-32 of the Buffalo City Code, part of Chapter 309, Parks and Other Open Spaces, gives the Commissioner of Parks or an authorized agent power to inspect any private property in the City to check the condition of trees, subject to the general inspection procedures of Chapter 249. Any tree that is diseased, dead, unsafe or otherwise hazardous to persons or property must be trimmed or removed according to its condition. Once the Commissioner determines a tree is dangerous, the Commissioner serves a written notice and order on the owner or tenant, describing the premises and specifying why the tree is unsafe; service can be personal or by registered mail to the owner's last known address on file with the Department of Assessment or City Treasurer, with a copy posted on the premises if mailed.

An owner who wants to contest the order has five days after service to file a written petition for a hearing before the Commissioner or a designated hearing officer, and the City must hold that hearing within 10 days of the petition. If the owner still does not comply within 30 days of the original notice, or the notice as modified after a hearing, the City trims or removes the tree itself and assesses all costs, including the actual cost of the work, against the land.

In a true emergency, where the hazardous condition threatens public safety immediately, the Commissioner can skip the hearing process, enter the property with assistance, and make the tree safe or take it down without delay, again billing the reasonable expense to the property owner.