Little Rock, AR Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Street clearance
- 14 feet minimum
- Sidewalk clearance
- 8 feet minimum
- Tree topping
- Specifically prohibited
- Crape myrtle minimum height
- 6 feet to qualify as tree
- Max fine
- $1,000 (or $500/day continuing)
Summary
Little Rock requires owners to prune trees along public roadways to keep 14 feet of clearance over streets and 8 feet over sidewalks, and bans tree topping.
The owners of all trees adjacent to public roadways shall be required to maintain a minimum clearance of fourteen (14) feet above the public street and eight (8) feet above sidewalks. Owners shall also prune and maintain trees so that they do not interfere with traffic signals or signs, street lighting, or roadway line of sight requirements. Owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, and broken or decayed limbs. Pruning shall be done in accordance within accepted industry standards that maintain both the appearance and health of the tree. "Tree topping" is specifically prohibited by this section. Crape myrtles shall not be trimmed lower than six (6) feet in height above grade to be classified as a tree.
(b)Construction pruning. In a case where a low-hanging limb may be broken during construction, the limb may be cut. In no instance shall the pruning involve a portion of the trunk or more than ten (10) percent of the canopy. (Ord. No. 20,181, § 1, 10-20-09)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 83).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 15-53, owners of trees adjacent to public roadways in Little Rock must maintain a minimum 14-foot clearance above the street and 8-foot clearance above the sidewalk. Trees also can't block traffic signals, signs, streetlights, or roadway sightlines, and owners must remove dead, diseased, or dangerous trees and broken limbs. Pruning must follow accepted industry standards; "tree topping" is explicitly prohibited, and crape myrtles must keep at least 6 feet of height to still count as a tree rather than a shrub. The city official designated by the city manager administers and enforces this chapter.
Violations & Fines
General Code penalty (Sec. 1-9) applies: up to a $1,000 fine per violation, doubled for repeats, or up to $500 per day for a continuing violation like unmaintained clearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much clearance must a tree keep over a Little Rock street?
Can I top my tree to get clearance in Little Rock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Little Rock
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