Mount Vernon, NY Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Public tree trimming
- written DPW permit required
- Overhang notice period before neighbor acts
- 30 days
- Trim-for-hire license threshold
- branch/trunk 2+ inches thick
- Permitted trimming hours
- 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays
- Weekend work
- requires separate permit
- Utility maintenance standard
- ISA practices
Summary
Mount Vernon requires a written Department of Public Works permit before anyone trims a tree on public property, and separately obligates a tree owner to cut back branches or roots that project over a neighbor's lot, sidewalk, or roadway once notified. Trimming a tree for hire anywhere in the City also requires its own City license.
It is unlawful for any individual, entity, corporation, utility company, telecommunications company, electric company, gas company or organization, without the written permit of the Commissioner of Public Works, to cut, break, injure or misuse any tree or shrub planted or growing in any public property...A written permit from the Department of Public Works is necessary for any person desiring for any lawful purpose to cut, prune or trim any tree in any public property. ... In the case of trees standing on any lot or land having branches or roots which project over or underneath an adjacent lot, sidewalk or roadway, the owner of the adjacent lot must notify the owner of the tree, so the owner of the tree may trim said branches or roots in order that the branches not adversely interfere with said adjacent lot...
Full Breakdown
City of Mount Vernon Code § 252-3B makes it "unlawful for any individual, entity, corporation, utility company, telecommunications company, electric company, gas company or organization, without the written permit of the Commissioner of Public Works, to cut, break, injure or misuse any tree or shrub planted or growing in any public property," and requires utilities to follow International Society of Arboriculture maintenance practices when working near street trees. For private trees, § 252-4A(2) addresses overhang directly: when branches or roots "project over or underneath an adjacent lot, sidewalk or roadway," the adjacent owner must first notify the tree's owner, who then has the chance to trim so the growth "does not adversely interfere" with the neighboring lot.
If the tree owner does not resolve the encroachment within 30 days, the adjacent owner can ask the Department of Buildings for a citation, or trim the branches or roots directly, so long as the work does not harm the tree's viability. on weekdays unless a weekend permit is obtained.
Violations & Fines
Trimming or cutting a public tree without the Commissioner of Public Works' written permit violates § 252-3B. A tree owner who ignores a neighbor's 30-day notice to cut back overhanging branches or roots can be cited by the Department of Buildings under § 252-4A(2), and a company that trims trees for hire without the license required by § 252-5B(8) is operating unlawfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to trim a street tree in front of my house?
My neighbor's tree branches hang over my yard. What can I do?
Does a company need a license to trim trees in Mount Vernon for pay?
When can tree-trimming crews work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Vernon
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How other cities in Westchester County handle tree trimming.