Detroit, MI Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance required
- 10 feet above street or sidewalk
- Enforcing agency
- General Services Department
- Right-of-way work
- Needs a General Services permit
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Detroit property owners must trim branches overhanging streets or sidewalks to keep a clear 10-foot vertical clearance and remove dead or hazardous limbs, per City Code enforced by General Services.
Every owner of any tree, shrub, or plant overhanging the streets or highways within the City shall trim the branches so that they shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection, and so that there shall be a clear space of ten feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk. Such owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, and broken or decayed limbs, which may be considered a menace to the safety of the public.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit City Code § 16-3-9 requires every owner of a tree, shrub, or plant overhanging a street or highway to trim it back so branches don't block streetlights or sightlines at intersections, keeping a clear ten-foot space above the street or sidewalk. Owners must also remove dead, diseased, or dangerous trees and any broken or decayed limbs that threaten public safety. Because street trees are City-controlled, trimming, spraying, or doing surgical work on any tree standing in the public right-of-way additionally requires a General Services Department permit under § 16-3-5, even when the work is done by the abutting property owner.
Violations & Fines
Violating this article is a misdemeanor under § 16-3-2, punishable by up to $500 and 90 days in jail, with a separate offense for each day the violation continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much clearance must my tree have over the sidewalk?
Do I need a permit to trim a tree next to my house in Detroit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan landscaping rules overview
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle tree trimming.