Allentown requires property owners abutting the right-of-way to keep street trees trimmed clear of the sidewalk and roadway. Pruning public shade trees needs a permit first. Private-yard tree trimming is not city-regulated.
Lehigh County does not zone or regulate tree trimming; municipal shade-tree codes govern. Allentown's Chapter 597 requires that street trees in the public right-of-way be trimmed to maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet above the right-of-way and 16 feet above the street. But you cannot prune a public shade tree yourself without a permit from the Construction Operations Manager, secured at least five days in advance, and arboricultural work in the right-of-way must be done by a licensed City tree surgeon (ISA-certified arborist). Trees entirely on your own private property are generally not covered by the city trimming code, though common-law nuisance and utility clearances still apply.
Working on a right-of-way tree without a permit or license is a summary offense; fines run up to $1,000 per infraction plus restitution.
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See how Lehigh County's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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