Kalamazoo, MI Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Kalamazoo's Tree Ordinance puts the City, not the property owner, in charge of maintaining trees in public places, curblawns and street rights-of-way: § 42-6B(1)(a) says that work will be performed by the City or its agent unless the Director of Public Works grants a written exemption, following the National Arborist Association's Pruning Standards for Shade Trees, revised 1988. The clearance standard itself is set in § 42-6B(1)(b): any overhanging branch must clear at least eight feet over a sidewalk and 15 feet over an ordinary street, rising to 16 feet over a major thoroughfare.

Utility companies get a separate track for line-clearance trimming under § 42-6B(6). For nonemergency trimming near power lines, the utility must give the Director of Public Works written notice at least 15 days before the work, stating the exact location; the ordinance treats emergency line-clearance work differently. The chapter separately bans topping, defined in § 42-3 as severe cutting back of limbs to stubs that disfigures a tree's canopy, for any street tree, City tree or tree on a public place, except where storm damage or an obstruction such as overhead wires makes other pruning impractical, subject to the Director of Public Works' approval.

Violating any part of Chapter 42, including these trimming standards, exposes the violator to fines and costs of up to $500 and up to 90 days in jail under § 42-8, and the Director of Public Works or a designee enforces the chapter by issuing appearance tickets.