Greensboro, NC Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Section 19-43, "Pruning, corner clearance," places the duty on the property owner: "Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way within the city shall prune the branches so that such branches 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 eight (8) feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk." Subsection (b) extends the owner's duty to removing "all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, and all broken or decayed limbs which constitute a menace to the safety of the public." Subsection (c) gives the city its own pruning authority: it "shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a street light or interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign." This sits within Chapter 19's street/park tree article; related provisions require a permit before planting a street tree under the official street tree plan (§ 19-38) and bar topping any street or park tree without parks and recreation director authorization (§ 19-42), but § 19-43's clearance and hazard-limb duty applies to private tree owners whose branches overhang public rights-of-way, not just to city-owned trees.