Grand Junction, CO Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk clearance
- At least 8 feet above the sidewalk
- Street/alley clearance
- At least 14 feet over street or alley
- Who's responsible
- Owner of the house, building or premises
- Measured by
- Parks and Recreation Department personnel
- Dead tree hazard
- City Manager order to remove, § 8.32.070
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine and/or 1 year jail
Summary
In the City of Grand Junction, property owners may not let tree branches hang lower than eight feet over a sidewalk or 14 feet over an alley or street. Municipal Code § 8.32.060 puts the duty to trim on the owner of the house, building or premises the tree fronts, with the Parks and Recreation Department judging clearance.
§ 8.32.060. Duty to trim trees. The owner of any house, building or premises shall not permit the branches of any shade, ornamental or other tree to project over any street, avenue or sidewalk in front of or alongside of such building or premises lower than eight feet from the surface of the sidewalk and 14 feet over the surface of the alley or street. In estimating such heights, personnel of the Department of Parks and Recreation shall take into consideration the variation of height due to normal rain, snow, sleet and foliage conditions.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.32.060 forbids the owner of any house, building or premises from permitting branches of any shade, ornamental or other tree to project over a street, avenue or sidewalk in front of or alongside the property lower than eight feet above the sidewalk surface and 14 feet above the surface of the alley or street. When the Department of Parks and Recreation measures that clearance, personnel account for normal variation from rain, snow, sleet and foliage, so a branch that dips only under wet or snow-loaded conditions is weighed against that seasonal allowance rather than judged at its single lowest moment.
The duty sits with the property owner regardless of whether the tree was planted by the owner, the City, or a prior owner. A related duty appears in § 8.32.070: if a tree or an overhanging bough becomes dead and dangerous to life, limb or property, the City Manager can order the owner or agent to remove it within a reasonable time, and if that notice is ignored the City Manager can remove or destroy the hazard directly and bill the owner or agent for the cost, recoverable by suit or assessment under § 8.04.080.
The Forestry Board maintains the approved tree list referenced elsewhere in Chapter 8.32, and a City Manager order under this chapter can be appealed to the Forestry Board under § 8.32.130.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 8.32 does not print a specific fine for letting branches hang below the eight-foot sidewalk or 14-foot street clearance, so a violation falls under the citywide general penalty in § 1.04.090: a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in jail, or both for an adult, with each day the low branch remains counted as a separate offense. Ignoring a City Manager removal notice for a dangerous dead tree under § 8.32.070 lets the City remove it and bill the owner or agent directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must my tree branches be over the sidewalk in Grand Junction?
Who has to trim overhanging branches, the City or the property owner?
What happens if I ignore a City notice about a dangerous tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grand Junction
Compare Grand Junction to another location·View the Colorado landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.