Salt Lake County, UT Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county roads
- Enforcing agency
- Public Works Operation Division
- Owner notice required for removal order
- Yes
- Notice required to trim/prune
- No
Summary
Salt Lake County's operation division can order abutting owners to remove dead or diseased trees on county roads, and can trim or prune any road tree without notice.
The operation division, upon giving proper notice to abutting property owner, shall have the authority to condemn and remove, or order the removal by the abutting property owner of any tree, tree stump, shrub or vine upon any county roads, avenues or ways where the tree, tree stump, shrub or vine is dead, diseased or for any other reason undesirable. The operation division shall have authority to trim or prune any road tree or remove any tree that is in violation of any county ordinance, without serving notice upon the abutting property owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).
Full Breakdown
County code gives the public works operation division authority to condemn and remove, or order the abutting property owner to remove, any tree, stump, shrub or vine on county roads, avenues or ways that is dead, diseased or otherwise undesirable, after giving the owner notice. Separately, the division can trim or prune any tree along a county road, or remove one that violates county ordinance, without notifying the abutting owner first: covering clearance issues over streets and sidewalks.
Violations & Fines
Failing to remove a condemned tree after county notice lets the operation division remove it directly; the code does not set a separate fine amount for noncompliance here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Salt Lake County trim my tree without telling me?
Who decides if a roadside tree in Salt Lake County must come down?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake County
Compare Salt Lake County to another location·View the Utah landscaping rules overview
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