Rowlett, TX Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk overhead clearance
- 8 feet minimum
- Street overhead clearance
- 14½ feet minimum
- Notice to comply
- 7 days
- Enforcement
- City may trim, bill owner
Summary
Rowlett requires trees and shrubs to keep 8 feet of vertical clearance over sidewalks and 14½ feet over streets, with no branches encroaching into the path of travel.
Trees, shrubs, or plants shall not create a hazard or an obstruction. Minimum clearance standards are as follows: (1) Overhead clearance of public sidewalks and other public pathways: Eight feet vertical clearance. (2) Lateral clearance of public sidewalks and other public pathways: No encroachment into or over sidewalks or pathways that block or hinder pedestrian access or use. (3) Overhead clearance of streets: 14½ feet vertical clearance. (4) Lateral clearance of streets: No encroachment over or above the back of curb or edge of paving.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 22-125(a) sets minimum clearance standards for trees, shrubs and plants on private property: 8 feet of overhead clearance above public sidewalks and pathways, 14½ feet above city streets, and no lateral encroachment past the curb or paving edge that blocks pedestrian or vehicle travel. The city manager or designee can find a tree hazardous, diseased, or obstructing and order the owner to trim or remove it within 7 days of written notice under § 22-126. If the owner ignores the notice, the city may do the work itself and assess the cost, plus a lien, against the property under §§ 22-127, 22-129.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply after notice is a misdemeanor, fined under § 1-13, with each day a separate offense; the city may also do the trimming itself and bill or lien the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much clearance does a tree need over a Rowlett sidewalk?
What if I don't trim a tree the city flags?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rowlett
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