Littleton, CO Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk clearance
- At least 10 feet
- Street clearance
- At least 14 feet
- Intersection sight-triangle clearance
- 10 ft sidewalk / 13 ft street
- Duty holder
- Adjacent property owner
- Correction notice window
- 7 to 30 days
- Appeal deadline
- 15 days to City Council
Summary
Owners of property adjacent to a Littleton public right of way must care for and trim trees so overhanging limbs clear at least 10 feet above a sidewalk and 14 feet above a street. The duty extends to watering, pruning, disease and pest control, and removal of trees and plants located on the adjacent right of way.
A. Every owner shall comply with the regulations adopted by the city manager, or his designee, and shall be responsible for the normal care, including the watering, pruning, control of diseases and pests, and removal (if required), of trees and plants located on rights of way adjacent to their property. ... ... C. It shall be the duty of any person planting or growing a tree on any public property to: ... ... 2. Properly care for and trim such trees so that they do not cause a hazard to public or private places or interfere with streetlights, poles, signs or traffic control devices and so that the minimum clearance of any overhanging portion is ten feet (10') above any sidewalk and fourteen feet (14') above any street.
Full Breakdown
Section 8-4-4 of the Littleton City Code, Title 8 Chapter 4 (Trees), makes every adjacent owner responsible for the normal care of trees and plants located on rights of way next to their property, including watering, pruning, control of diseases and pests, and removal if required, under regulations the city manager or a designee adopts. Anyone planting or growing a tree on public property must first obtain the city's permission and comply with any conditions attached to it, then properly care for and trim the tree so it does not become a hazard and does not interfere with streetlights, utility poles, signs, or traffic control devices.
The clearance standard is specific: the minimum overhanging clearance is 10 feet above any sidewalk and 14 feet above any street. A related duty in section 8-1-6, covering obstructions at street intersections, sets a slightly different clearance exception for corner-lot trees at intersections, 10 feet above sidewalk level and 13 feet above street level, and makes it the duty of anyone growing a tree, shrub, or plant within the sight-triangle area to trim or remove it; the Director of Public Works can order correction with 7 to 30 days to comply, appeal runs to City Council within 15 days, and an obstruction that is an immediate danger to the public may be declared a nuisance and removed by the Director on 24 hours' notice.
Section 8-4-4(B) separately makes it unlawful for anyone without authorization to damage, cut, carve, transplant, or remove a tree on public property or rights of way, or to attach signs, wires, or fasteners that could harm it.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain the required clearance, or damaging a right-of-way tree without authorization, is punishable under the City's general penalty, Code section 1-4-1: a fine of up to $2,650, up to 364 days in jail, or probation up to one year, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. Under section 8-1-6(E), the Director of Public Works may also trim or remove a noncompliant obstruction and bill the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must I trim street trees on my property line in Littleton?
What if my tree blocks visibility at a corner in Littleton?
Who is responsible for trimming trees on the right of way next to my house?
Can Littleton remove my tree if I don't trim it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Littleton
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle tree trimming.