Killeen, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Section 28-241 of the Killeen Code of Ordinances, "Visibility at intersections," governs how trees and shrubs growing in the parkway (the strip between the curb line and the abutting property line) must be maintained. Outside the intersection visibility triangle, a tree or shrub in the parkway area is capped at two feet above curb level unless it qualifies for the trimmed-tree exception: it must be kept trimmed at all times so no branch hangs lower than six feet above curb level, and trees relying on that exception must be planted no less than twenty-five feet apart.

Even a properly trimmed tree cannot interfere with the free passage of vehicles on the street or pedestrians on the public right-of-way, or obscure a driver's view of another vehicle, a traffic-control device, or a street sign. Inside the visibility triangle itself (measured thirty-five feet back along the curb lines from each street intersection), no tree, shrub, plant, sign, or other view obstruction may exceed two feet in height at all, with narrow exceptions for permanent zoning-authorized structures, traffic-control signs and signals, street signs, and utility poles placed by the city council's authority.

The rule sits in Chapter 28's traffic article rather than the landscaping chapter because its purpose is driver and pedestrian sight distance, not aesthetics, but it is the section that actually controls tree clearance over Killeen streets and sidewalks. It was last amended by Ord. No. 24-020 on June 11, 2024, carrying forward language that traces to Ord. No. 74-57 from 1974.