Gary, IN Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Clear zone
- 3 to 6 feet above the street crown
- Trigger distance
- Within 30 feet of the curb
- Applies to
- Corner and through lots
- 'Owner' includes
- Fee owner, rental agent, managing agent/trustee
- City remedy
- Entry, removal, cost billed via tax duplicate
Summary
Owners of corner lots in the City of Gary must keep trees trimmed clear of vision between six feet and three feet above the street crown within 30 feet of the curb, and other vegetation nearer than 30 feet to the curb line must stay under three feet or be trimmed within that same zone under Section 44-52.
(a)It shall be the duty of the owner of any lot alongside any intersecting streets or alongside any street which enters or runs into another street to keep all trees trimmed of limbs, branches, and leaves which hang down or obstruct the vision between a point six feet above the crown of any street and a point three feet above the crown of any street where the trees are located nearer than 30 feet from the curb of the street.(b)It shall be unlawful for the owner of any lot to keep or maintain any plants, flowers, shrubs, bushes, weeds, or other vegetation other than trees, on any lot at a point nearer than 30 feet to the curbline of any street at a greater height than three feet above the crown of the street, unless they are trimmed of limbs, branches, and leaves between a point six feet above the crown of the street and a point three feet above the crown of the street.
Full Breakdown
Section 44-52 of the Gary Municipal Code imposes a sight-clearance duty on owners of lots along intersecting streets. Under subsection (a), the owner of any lot alongside an intersecting street, or alongside a street that runs into another street, must keep trees trimmed of limbs, branches and leaves that hang down or obstruct vision between a point six feet above the crown of the street and a point three feet above the crown of the street, wherever the tree stands closer than 30 feet from the curb.
Subsection (b) extends the same clear zone to non-tree vegetation: plants, flowers, shrubs, bushes, weeds or other vegetation within 30 feet of the curb line cannot be kept taller than three feet above the street crown unless trimmed clear between the three-foot and six-foot lines. Subsection (c) defines 'owner' broadly to include anyone holding fee simple title to the lot, a rental agent, or any agent or trustee who controls or manages the lot, so a landlord or property manager cannot avoid the duty by pointing to a tenant.
If an owner does not maintain the required sight triangle, Section 44-53 lets the department of public parks, the superintendent of parks, or the street commissioner enter the property, clear the obstruction themselves, and certify the cost to the county treasurer for collection on the property's tax bill, the same self-help remedy used for dead and stump trees under Section 44-50.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep sight-line vegetation trimmed between three and six feet above the street crown within 30 feet of the curb violates Section 44-52(a) and (b). The department of public parks, the superintendent of parks or the street commissioner can enter and clear the obstruction under Section 44-53, then bill the cost to the owner through the county tax duplicate, the same collection method used against owners who ignore stump and dead-tree removal notices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high can hedges be near a Gary street corner?
Who counts as the 'owner' responsible for trimming under this section?
What if I do not trim the sight triangle myself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gary
Compare Gary to another location·View the Indiana landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.