Lexington, KY Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance over sidewalks
- 7 feet minimum
- Clearance over streets
- 12 feet minimum
- Clearance over truck routes
- 14 feet minimum
- Topping ban
- Cuts to stubs over 3 in. dia. in crown, unlawful
- Sign-visibility pruning cap
- Under 25% of crown
- Max civil fine
- $2,500 per day (§ 17B-12)
Summary
Street trees in Lexington-Fayette's right-of-way must be kept clear of sidewalks and streets, minimum overhead clearance is 7 feet over sidewalks, 12 feet over ordinary streets, and 14 feet over truck routes, and owners bear the maintenance duty, while severe 'topping' cuts are separately banned.
Owners of street trees shall provide reasonable care and maintenance to trees within the urban county government right-of-way or tree planting easement, including as appropriate, watering, pruning, insect control and removal of dead or diseased limbs, and removal of any vine or other invasive plant or growth that masks potential defects of the tree. It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any building or lot to permit any tree, including street trees, to grow in a manner which interferes with a normal sidewalk located on such lot or within an urban county government right-of-way adjoining such lot, or street traffic... The minimum clearance of any overhanging portion thereof shall be seven (7) feet over sidewalks and twelve (12) feet over all streets except truck routes which shall have a clearance of fourteen (14) feet.
Full Breakdown
Section 17B-8 puts reasonable care and maintenance of street trees on their owners, covering watering, pruning, insect control, removing dead or diseased limbs, and clearing vines or invasive growth that masks tree defects. It's separately unlawful for an owner or occupant to let any tree, street tree or otherwise, grow so that it interferes with a normal sidewalk on the lot or an adjoining right-of-way, obstructs street traffic, or threatens safety by blocking sightlines or passage. The section then fixes hard numbers: overhanging branches must clear sidewalks by at least 7 feet, clear ordinary streets by at least 12 feet, and clear designated truck routes by at least 14 feet.
Trimming for clearance has its own limit under the neighboring topping ban in § 17B-7: it's unlawful as normal practice to 'top' a right-of-way tree, severely cutting limbs back to stubs over 3 inches in diameter within the crown so as to remove the normal canopy, except with written approval from the urban forester for storm-damaged trees or ones under utility wires where other pruning is impractical. Pruning purely to boost the visibility of a sign or building facade is capped at removing less than 25 percent of the crown; taking more, or removing the normal canopy for that purpose, is also unlawful.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain clearance, or over-pruning/topping a street tree, is enforced as a civil citation under § 17B-12, issued by officers authorized under § 14-10 and referred to the infrastructure hearing board. A notice of violation with at least a 24-hour cure period typically precedes the first citation. Each day a clearance or topping violation continues is a separate offense, up to a maximum civil fine of $2,500 per violation, with the urban county government able to abate the hazard itself and bill the owner, including a $150 administrative fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much clearance must a street tree have over a Lexington sidewalk?
Can I 'top' my street tree to keep it small?
Who is responsible for trimming street trees for clearance?
Can I cut back a street tree just so my sign is more visible?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington
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