Cape Coral, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Section 5.5.7.A of the Land Development Code addresses planting and maintenance conflicts between trees and overhead utility lines. Any canopy tree branch or palm frond that comes within ten feet of an existing overhead transmission or distribution line, measured radially from the line, is 'subject to trimming or removal by the power company as necessary to maintain public overhead utilities in accordance with the National Electric Safety Code (NESC).' That clearance authority belongs to the utility, not the property owner, and applies regardless of when the tree was planted.

Looking forward, the Code also controls what can be planted near a line in the first place. No canopy tree or palm can be planted closer to an overhead transmission or distribution line than the minimum separation distance set out in Table 5.5.7.A for palms and Table 5.5.7.B for canopy trees, which varies by species; some species, like the Areca Palm, carry no minimum distance at all, while others require a specific number of feet between the trunk and the line at rest. Any species not listed in either table cannot be planted within 20 feet of an existing overhead line without the prior written consent of the Department of Community Development Director. The separation distance is measured from the center of the tree at ground level to the closest point on the ground within the vertical plane of the line.