Jefferson County, MO Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance zone
- foliage clear between 3 and 10 feet high
- Max trunk diameter allowed
- 15 inches within the triangle
- Setback from pavement edge
- 35 feet minimum for trees/trunks
- Roundabout clear-vision radius
- 25 feet from outside curve
- Ongoing duty
- owners must keep growth trimmed
Summary
Trees and foliage at Jefferson County intersections and driveways must be trimmed so nothing blocks the view between 3 and 10 feet above ground within the sight triangle, and trunks over 15 inches wide cannot stand within 35 feet of the pavement edge.
No building or other type of visual obstruction shall be placed, erected or maintained within the sight triangle. Street trees, certain types of vegetation, poles and posts are allowed within the sight triangle, provided that they do not have any foliage, limbs or other obstructions between three (3) and ten (10) feet above ground level, are not more than fifteen (15) inches in diameter and are not closer than thirty-five (35) feet to the intersecting pavement edge.
Full Breakdown
2600, Visual Clearance Standards - Minimum Sight Distance, requires proper lines of sight to be maintained at all intersections and driveways in the unincorporated county. Within the sight triangle, no building or other visual obstruction may be placed, erected, or maintained. Street trees and certain vegetation, poles, and posts are allowed inside the triangle only if they carry no foliage, limbs, or other obstruction between 3 and 10 feet above ground level, are no more than 15 inches in trunk diameter, and stand no closer than 35 feet to the intersecting pavement edge; decorative fences are allowed on the same 35-foot offset provided their design keeps a clear view through the clearance area.
2600(B)(2)(c) as the space formed by lines 35 feet long along the pavement edges of intersecting streets, or a driveway and a street right-of-way, measured from their point of intersection; within it, no landscaping, screening material, sign, parked vehicle, or other object may interfere with the sight line between 3 and 10 feet above the pavement. At roundabouts the clear-vision area extends 25 feet from the outside curve's pavement edge. 2600(A) requires the sight lines to be maintained on an ongoing basis, not just at the time of construction, which means a property owner whose tree or hedge grows into the triangle after occupancy remains responsible for keeping it trimmed to the standard.
Violations & Fines
Section 400.2600 carries no standalone penalty clause, so an obstruction left standing in the sight triangle falls under the Code's General Penalty, Section 100.030: a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both, with each day the obstruction remains treated as a separate offense in Jefferson County Municipal Court. Section 400.2600(C) also clarifies the rule never authorizes placing anything in the street right-of-way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must I trim a tree near a Jefferson County intersection?
Can I keep a tree trunk inside the sight triangle if I trim the branches?
Who enforces sight-triangle clearance in Jefferson County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
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