Burlington, WI Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Required clearance
- 9 feet above sidewalk/street
- Classification
- Nuisance affecting peace & safety
- Enforcers
- Police Chief, Fire Chief, Building Inspector
- City remedy
- City may cut and bill owner (§227-8)
- First-offense forfeiture
- $5-$500
Summary
Burlington City Code § 227-5E declares any tree limb hanging less than nine feet above a public sidewalk, street or other public place a public nuisance affecting peace and safety. Owners must keep branches trimmed above that clearance or face a Chapter 227 abatement order and fine.
E. Tree limbs. All limbs of trees which project over and less than nine feet above any public sidewalk, street or other public place. ... Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter, or permit or cause a public nuisance, shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-4 of this Municipal Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4997580; v29 updated 2026-07-07; through 07-07-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 227-5 lists nuisances affecting public peace and safety, and Subsection E targets overhanging branches directly: any limb projecting over and less than nine feet above a public sidewalk, street or other public place is a nuisance regardless of intent. The same subsection sits alongside § 227-5D, obstruction of intersections by trees and hedges, showing the City treats low or blocking vegetation as a safety hazard rather than a mere aesthetic complaint. Enforcement runs through § 227-7: the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief and the Building Inspector must inspect the tree and confirm the nuisance before an abatement order issues.
An imminent-danger limb can be ordered removed immediately without prior notice under the summary abatement power; an ordinary low limb gets a written order requiring correction within a stated time, not less than 30 days, served personally, by mail, or by posting and publication if the owner cannot be found. If the owner does not trim the limb, § 227-8 lets the City remove it and collect the abatement cost from the owner as a debt or, if notice was given, as a special assessment against the real estate.
On top of the abatement cost, § 227-12 exposes the property owner to the Chapter 1, § 1-4 general forfeiture for the underlying nuisance violation.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a low-limb abatement order lets the City enter, cut the branch, and bill the owner directly or through a special property assessment under § 227-8. Independently, § 227-12 subjects any Chapter 227 violation to the Chapter 1, § 1-4 forfeiture: five to five hundred dollars for a first offense and ten to one thousand dollars for a repeat offense within a year, plus prosecution costs and possible jail for nonpayment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How low can a tree branch hang over a Burlington sidewalk?
Who decides if my tree is a nuisance?
What happens if I don't trim the limb after notice?
Is there a fine on top of the trimming cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burlington
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