Springfield, OR Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Springfield Municipal Code section 5.050, in Chapter 5's nuisance article, targets trees and shrubs whose location or condition threatens a public street, sewer, or sidewalk. Under section 5.050(1), any tree or shrub growing in a parking strip, other public place, or on private property that is endangering or in any way may endanger the security or usefulness of a public street, sewer, or sidewalk is declared a public nuisance outright, with no separate finding required beyond that threat. Section 5.050(2) gives the city two enforcement paths: the city manager's staff can remove or trim the tree directly, or require the property owner to remove or trim it, including a tree in the parking strip abutting the owner's property, which is public right of way maintained by the adjoining owner under Springfield's street tree practice.

If the owner ignores a 30 day written notice from the city manager, section 5.050(3) turns the failure itself into a code violation: the manager may then have the tree removed or trimmed and bill the cost against the property, and the owner is separately subject to a fine of up to $720 under SMC section 1.205. Because section 1.205(5) treats every day a violation continues as a separate offense, an owner who leaves a hazardous tree unaddressed can face repeated citations layered on top of the assessed removal cost.

Owners are not without recourse: section 5.050(4) lets a property owner appeal the manager's order within 10 days by filing written notice, which the manager brings to the next regular city council meeting, where the appellant and the manager may present evidence before the council issues a conclusive decision under section 5.050(5).