Illinois preempts municipal regulation of utility line clearance vegetation management through ICC rules that apply uniformly to all electric utilities.
The Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5) gives the Illinois Commerce Commission exclusive authority over electric utility safety, including vegetation management. ICC rule 83 Ill. Adm. Code 411 incorporates ANSI A300 and the National Electrical Safety Code, requiring utilities to maintain minimum clearance distances around transmission and distribution lines. Property owners cannot prevent statutorily authorized trimming, though utilities must provide notice for non-emergency work.
Utilities that fail to maintain clearances face ICC penalties up to $30,000 per violation per day under 220 ILCS 5/4-203; obstruction of authorized trimming may be enjoined.
See how Plano's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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