Charleston, WV Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 102-16
- What's barred
- Foliage blocking street/pedestrian view
- Where it applies
- Curbline into the public right-of-way
- Enforcement
- Nuisance abatement by city manager
- Related duty
- Sec. 102-9 keeps trees off sidewalks
Summary
Charleston bars property owners from letting trees, shrubs, bushes or weeds grow into the street right-of-way or block a driver's or pedestrian's view, treating overgrowth as a nuisance the city manager can order abated.
No person shall plant, grow or permit to grow or maintain on any lot or parcel of ground, any trees, shrubbery, bushes, weeds or obstructions of any kind which obstructs or interferes with the view or vision of the driver of a vehicle or pedestrian extends beyond the curbline into the right-of-way, or creates an unsafe condition for them while upon any public streets.(b)Any trees, shrubbery, bushes, weeds or obstructions of any kind which obstructs or interferes with the view or vision of a driver of a vehicle or pedestrian or creates an unsafe condition for them while proceeding on any public street is declared a nuisance and may be abated by the city manager pursuant to the provisions of the city's Charter or any ordinance. (Code 1975, § 18-49)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 102-16 makes it unlawful to plant, grow, or permit to grow any tree, shrub, bush, weed, or other obstruction on your lot that interferes with the view or vision of a driver or pedestrian, or that extends beyond the curbline into the public right-of-way along a city street. Separately, Sec. 102-9 requires owners of lots above street grade to keep trees and bushes from falling or washing onto the adjacent sidewalk or street. Violations under Sec. 102-16 are declared a nuisance and can be abated by the city manager under the city's general nuisance-abatement powers and Charter authority, not a standalone criminal fine.
Violations & Fines
Declared a public nuisance; city manager can order the obstruction cut back or removed and abate it if the owner doesn't comply, with abatement costs billed to the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Charleston require trimming trees over the sidewalk?
What happens if I don't cut back an overgrown tree?
Does this cover city-owned street trees too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charleston
Compare Charleston to another location·View the West Virginia landscaping rules overview
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