Newport News, VA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Newport News regulates who may trim vegetation on land the city owns and on its rights-of-way under City Code Chapter 40.3, Vegetation. Section 40.3-1 states that the city council found that damage to city trees, shrubs, landscape plants and vegetation on city properties and rights-of-way affects public health, safety and welfare, which is why the chapter's permit system exists. Section 40.3-4 targets utility trimming specifically: it bars any electric light company, telephone company, telegraph company, cable television company, or other entity authorized to occupy city property from trimming a tree, shrub, landscape planting or other vegetation on city property without first obtaining a permit from the director.

Section 40.3-2 defines 'director' as the director of parks and recreation or a designee, so that office issues the trimming permit. 'Person' under that same section excludes city employees performing their duties and anyone else working under the city's lawful authority, meaning a city work crew clearing limbs from a power line does not need its own permit the way an outside utility contractor does. Section 40.3-7 adds that where this chapter's rule is stricter than another local ordinance, statute or regulation touching the same activity, Chapter 40.3 controls; where the other rule is stricter, the other rule controls.

The permit requirement is separate from, and narrower than, the general pruning and removal permit in Section 40-3.3, which covers all persons rather than just utility companies.