Tree trimming on private property is regulated by individual Oakland County municipalities; there is no county-wide private-property trimming ordinance. Trimming within a county road right-of-way requires a permit from the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC). Trimming on a state highway (M-1 Woodward, M-10, M-59, I-75, I-696, etc.) requires a permit from MDOT under Act 200 of 1969.
The Road Commission for Oakland County, headquartered in Beverly Hills, maintains all county-jurisdiction roads in Oakland County's 62 communities. RCOC requires an Application to Work in Road Right of Way for any vegetation work in the public ROW, including removal of overhanging limbs by a private contractor. RCOC also actively clears sight-distance triangles at intersections and prunes for vertical clearance over the roadway (typically 14 ft over roadway and 8 ft over sidewalks). For state-trunkline routes inside Oakland County, MDOT regulates vegetation removal and trimming under the right-of-way construction permit program. Privately owned trees that overhang a road or sidewalk and obstruct sight lines or vertical clearance are typically the owner's responsibility to maintain; failure may result in a notice from RCOC or the local municipality, with abatement at owner cost.
Working in the road ROW without an RCOC permit can void liability protections and result in restoration cost recovery. MDOT may issue stop-work orders and require restoration for unpermitted state ROW work. Local municipalities may issue civil infractions ($100-$500) for failing to maintain sight-distance clearance on private trees overhanging the ROW.
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