Nassau County, NY Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Admin Code § 12-4.2
- Applies to
- trees abutting county roads only
- Excludes
- Glen Cove, Long Beach, larger villages
- Enforcement
- DPW removal, cost assessed to owner
Summary
Nassau County's Department of Public Works can order owners of property abutting county roads to prune or remove trees, hedges, and shrubbery that endanger drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians, then bill the cost to the property if the owner refuses.
Such ordinance may also provide for the care, pruning or removal of trees, hedges and shrubbery located on property abutting such roads by the owners or occupants of such abutting property when any such tree or trees, hedges or shrubbery are dangerous to such roads or to persons or vehicles using such roads... upon failure so to do within a period fixed in such ordinance, the Department of Public Works may cause such tree or trees, hedges or shrubbery to be cared for, pruned or removed or replaced and the expense may be assessed by the County Legislature upon the abutting property.
Full Breakdown
Under Nassau County Administrative Code § 12-4.2, the Department of Public Works has jurisdiction over trees, hedges, and shrubbery between property lines on county roads, except in the County's cities and in villages of the first and second class, so this reaches most county roads but not Glen Cove, Long Beach, or the larger incorporated villages. Where a tree, hedge, or shrub on abutting private property is dangerous to the road or to persons or vehicles using it, the County can order the owner to prune, remove, or replace it within a deadline fixed by ordinance. If the owner ignores the notice, DPW does the work itself and assesses the full cost against the property, or the County Attorney sues to recover it.
Violations & Fines
Ignore a county notice to prune or remove a tree, hedge, or shrub that's dangerous to a county road, and DPW can do the work itself, then add the full cost to your property tax bill or have the County Attorney sue to collect it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nassau County trim trees on my street?
What if I don't trim a tree blocking a county road?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the New York landscaping rules overview
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