Haverford, PA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Two chapters of the Haverford Township Code set tree clearance. Section 138-2 makes it unlawful for a property owner or person in possession of any premises to maintain trees or hedges that obstruct the proper lighting of the streets, sidewalks and highways, or to permit trees, hedges or tall grasses to grow along the sidewalks in front of their lots so as to obstruct the use of the sidewalks or highways.

Section 170-3C(4) supplies the numbers. Every owner of trees standing on private property must keep them trimmed so that the minimum clearance of any branches overhanging public walks is 12 feet for mature trees and nine feet for newly planted trees, and the minimum clearance where branches overhang any public street, highway or avenue is 14 feet. Section 170-3A applies the chapter's standards to all public shade trees in Haverford Township, including the portion of a public shade tree on private property.

Trimming to meet that clearance does not need a permit. Section 170-3B(1) requires a written permit from the Township Manager to plant, prune, remove or spray a public shade tree in or upon a public street, highway or avenue, but it carves out trimming shade trees to conform to the C(4) clearance, trimming or pruning shrubs and bushes within the public area, removing low hanging or broken branches that create or can create a public nuisance or danger, and normal repair, upkeep, minor pruning and trimming. A permit is still required to remove a public shade tree with a DBH of four inches. The Township Manager can also order removal of any tree on private property that is diseased, dead or creating a hazard to the public (§ 170-3C(5)).

Enforcement runs through two routes. Under § 138-5, the Director of Public Works notifies the owner or occupier to remove a tree, hedge, tall grass or weeds obstructing public travel or street lighting within five days, and the Township can do the work and charge the labor cost plus a penalty of 10%. Under § 170-3E(3), if an owner ignores a written order of the Township Manager within the stated time, the Township Manager can abate the violation at the owner's expense, and the entire cost becomes a lien on the premises, filed in the same manner as municipal claims.