Jacksonville, NC Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Sec. 15-78 makes it unlawful as normal practice for any person or unauthorized city department to top a street tree, park tree or other tree on public property; 'topping' is defined as severely cutting limbs back to stubs larger than two inches in diameter within the crown, to the point the normal canopy is removed and the tree disfigured. The city manager can exempt trees severely damaged by storms, or trees that threaten utility wires where standard pruning isn't practical. Separately, Sec. 15-82 requires anyone who wants to prune, treat or remove a street or park tree to first file an application and get a permit from the city manager or a designee, who reviews both the application and the tree before deciding.

Related sections round out the trimming rules: Sec. 15-79 requires stumps from removed street and park trees to be cut below ground level, and Sec. 15-81 bars placing solvents, materials, construction machinery or temporary soil deposits within six feet, or two-thirds of the drip line if greater, of a street or park tree during construction. The city manager may waive these requirements after hurricanes, windstorms, floods or freezes under Sec. 15-83, and may grant a hardship variance under Sec. 15-84.