Madison Urban Forestry Division regulates all work on public trees under MGO 10.10. No trimming or removal of terrace or park trees is allowed without a permit. Private trees overhanging public ways must be clear to 8 feet sidewalk and 14 feet street.
Madison operates one of the largest municipal urban forestry programs in the Midwest, managing roughly 100,000 street trees. MGO 10.10 prohibits any person other than city crews or licensed contractors from pruning, spraying, removing, or otherwise altering trees in the terrace or on city property without a permit from the City Forester. Private trees overhanging sidewalks must be trimmed to 8 feet of clearance, and branches over the street must clear 14 feet. Owners who fail to maintain clearance receive a notice and 30 days to cure; unresolved issues result in city crews performing work billed to the property. Urban Forestry also manages the emerald ash borer response, including injection treatment of viable ash trees and structured removal of declining ones. Property owners can request a terrace tree planting through the division at no cost.
Unauthorized work on public trees cited under MGO 10.10 with forfeitures up to 1,000 dollars plus restitution for tree value.
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See how Madison's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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