Salem, OR Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Duty on owner
- Prune growth projecting into City property
- Compliance window
- 10 days after Director's written order
- City remedy
- May prune/remove and bill owner
- Restoration cost
- Appraised tree value plus separate fine
- Civil penalty
- Up to $2,000 per violation
Summary
Property owners in Salem must maintain and prune trees, shrubs, or other plants on their land that project into City property, including over streets and sidewalks, under SRC 86.015(c). If an owner neglects that duty after a written order from the Director, the City can prune or remove the growth itself and bill the property owner for the cost.
(c)Pruning of trees projecting into City property. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and prune trees, shrubs, or other plants on private property that project into City property in accordance with applicable administrative rules. If the Director determines pruning of any such tree, shrub, or plant is deemed necessary, the Director shall have the power to prune or cause or order the same to be pruned. The City may assume the responsibility for pruning and bill the cost of pruning to the property owner, if notice to the property owner has been provided under SRC 86.105.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
015(c), part of the chapter governing trees on City-owned property, puts the pruning duty for overhanging vegetation squarely on the private property owner: it is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and prune trees, shrubs, or other plants on private property that project into City property in accordance with applicable administrative rules. That duty covers growth extending over the sidewalk, planting strip, or street right-of-way, wherever a tree rooted on private land crosses onto City property. 105(a) the City serves a written order by mail giving the owner ten days to comply.
120. 105(c) makes the violating owner responsible for restoration costs, calculated at not less than the appraised monetary value of the vegetation removed, on top of a separate civil fine for each violation. 070(e) works alongside this duty from the City-tree side: a City-owned street tree that is itself obstructing an established clearance area or zone is grounds for the Director to authorize a pruning permit to correct the obstruction, so clearance problems get addressed whether the offending growth is on private property or is a City tree.
Violations & Fines
Failing to prune trees or shrubs projecting into City property within ten days of a Director's written order under SRC 86.105(a) is a chapter 86 violation. The City can then prune or remove the growth itself under SRC 86.105(b), bill the owner for restoration at appraised tree value, and impose a separate civil fine per violation up to $2,000 under SRC 86.120(c).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for trimming a tree that hangs over the sidewalk in Salem?
What happens if I ignore a City order to trim my tree?
Does this rule apply to City-owned street trees too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salem
Compare Salem to another location·View the Oregon landscaping rules overview
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