Houston, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum clearance
- At least 8 feet above ground
- Who is responsible
- Owners/occupants of adjacent lots
- Citation
- Houston Code of Ordinances Sec. 40-14
- Chapter
- Chapter 40, Streets and Sidewalks
Summary
Houston requires property owners to trim street trees so limbs overhanging sidewalks clear at least eight feet above the ground, per City Code Section 40-14.
It shall be the duty of the owners and occupants of lots in the city in front of and adjacent to which shade trees are growing in the streets, to keep the same trimmed in such a manner that the limbs and branches of the same overhanging the sidewalks shall be at least eight feet above the ground.
Full Breakdown
Under Houston Code of Ordinances Section 40-14, owners and occupants of lots fronting streets where shade trees grow must keep those trees trimmed so limbs and branches overhanging the sidewalk stay at least eight feet above the ground. The duty runs with any lot adjacent to a street tree, not just city-planted ones, and exists to preserve pedestrian clearance. It sits inside Chapter 40, Streets and Sidewalks, alongside other public right-of-way maintenance duties such as sidewalk repair and protecting street-name markers from damage.
Violations & Fines
Section 40-14 sets the trimming duty but does not state its own penalty; violations of Code of Ordinances provisions fall under the general penalty in Section 1-6, a fine unless another section provides otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must tree limbs be trimmed over a Houston sidewalk?
Who is responsible for trimming trees near a Houston sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Houston to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle tree trimming.