Duluth, MN Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Vehicle clearance
- 14 feet minimum over streets
- Pedestrian clearance
- 10 feet minimum over sidewalks
- Compliance window
- 10 days from written order
- Nonpayment
- Becomes a special property assessment
- Enforcing office
- Tree inspector, Parks and Recreation forestry
Summary
In the City of Duluth, homeowners must trim any private tree or shrub that overhangs a public street or sidewalk easement to a clear height of 14 feet over vehicle travel lanes and ten feet over pedestrian paths under Duluth Legislative Code § 35-30. Owners must also remove hazardous dead or diseased branches, and the tree inspector can order compliance in writing.
(b) Any tree or shrub situated upon private property, but so situated as to extend its branches over the improved portion of a public street or highway easement, shall be so trimmed by the owner of the real property upon which the same is located that there is a clear height of 14 feet over that portion of such easement that is used for vehicular traffic, and a clear height of ten feet over that portion of such easement used for pedestrian travel, unobstructed by branches, and such persons shall remove the dead or diseased branches or stubs of such trees which are or may become a hazard to the public use of such easement; ... (c) All orders to trim, remove or treat trees, shrubs or plants given pursuant to this Section shall be in writing and shall be served personally or by mail upon the owner of the property where such trees, shrubs or plants are located. Such orders shall give the owner of the property not less than ten days from the date of delivery or mailing of such notice to comply with such order. It shall be unlawful for an owner of property receiving such an order to fail to comply with such order within the specified time;
Full Breakdown
Section 35-30 of the tree ordinance puts the trimming duty on the owner of the private property where the overhanging tree or shrub is rooted, not on the city, whenever branches extend over the improved portion of a public street or highway easement. The clearance floor is 14 feet for the vehicular-travel portion of the easement and ten feet for the pedestrian-travel portion, and any dead or diseased branches or stubs that could become a hazard to public use of the easement must come down regardless of height.
The tree inspector, designated under § 35-27 within Parks and Recreation's forestry operations, can also order trimming, treatment or removal of any private tree, shrub or plant when necessary for public safety or to stop disease or insects from spreading to public trees. Orders must be in writing, served personally or by mail, and give the owner at least ten days to comply; ignoring an order within that window is itself unlawful. If the owner still does not act, the tree inspector may have the work done and bill the owner.
Unpaid charges become a special assessment: the city assessor sends a delinquency list to the city council by July 1 each year, the council holds a public hearing on ten days' certified-mail notice, and confirmed assessments become due October 1, with a penalty under § 31-8 for late payment that follows the collection process in City Charter § 70.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with a written trimming order within the ten-day notice period is unlawful. The city can then perform the trimming itself and recover the cost from the owner directly or, if unpaid, through a special assessment against the property, plus a delinquency penalty set under § 31-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must I trim my tree branches that hang over a Duluth street?
What happens if the city sends me a written order to trim my tree?
Can the city put the cost of trimming my tree on my property taxes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Duluth
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