Prune trees in your own yard freely, but trimming, planting, or removing any tree in the tree lawn, the strip between curb and sidewalk, requires a free permit from the city Forestry office under Section 19-17 before the work.
Trees on private property inside your yard are unregulated; you may prune them without a permit. The public tree lawn is different. Under Chapter 19, Article 1, Division 2, Section 19-17, the fronting property owner is responsible for maintaining the tree-lawn tree but must obtain a permit before trimming, planting, or removing it. The City Forester, part of Venues Parks & Arts under the Board of Park Commissioners, evaluates the request; permits carry no fee and are valid one year. After approval the owner may do the work or hire a licensed arborist. Request a permit from the Forestry office at 574-299-4766. Branches crossing from a neighbor's tree may be trimmed back to the property line under Indiana common law.
No penalty for pruning trees in your own yard. Trimming, planting, or removing a tree-lawn tree without the required Section 19-17 permit violates city code and can bring enforcement from the Forestry office.
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