Showing ordinances that apply to Lake Darby, OH
Lake Darby is an unincorporated community (population 4,731) in Franklin County, Ohio. Because Lake Darby is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Franklin County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The tree trimming rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Tree trimming in Franklin County is regulated at the municipal level. Columbus Recreation and Parks Urban Forestry controls street trees under Columbus City Code 911; homeowners may trim private trees but need a permit to touch any tree in the public right-of-way. AEP Ohio handles utility line clearance separately.
Columbus has one of the largest urban forestry programs in Ohio, managing approximately 115,000 street trees. City Code 911 requires a no-cost permit from the Forestry Section before pruning, planting, or removing any tree in the tree lawn between sidewalk and curb; unauthorized pruning can trigger tree-replacement charges based on appraised value. Private-property trees belong to the landowner who may trim freely, but neighbors may only trim branches overhanging their own property up to the property line and cannot damage tree health under Ohio common law. Suburban Franklin County cities including Bexley, Worthington, and Upper Arlington have similar street tree permit programs. AEP Ohio performs utility line clearance on a rotating cycle and does not require homeowner permission for utility-line trimming within easement areas.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Lake Darby's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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