Stamford, CT Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must comply
- Abutting property owner/lessee
- Corner sight-triangle height cap
- 3 feet within 25 feet
- Fine range
- $25–$90 per offense
- Related rule
- § 214-27.1 corner vision
Summary
Stamford property owners whose land abuts a city street or sidewalk must keep trees, hedges, and other vegetation trimmed back so nothing overhangs the sidewalk or blocks a motorist's sight line.
No owner, lessee or person in possession or control of any land within the city shall set out, maintain or allow to grow upon any such land abutting a city street or sidewalk any hedge, grass, tree, shrub or other vegetation in such position that such hedge, grass, tree, shrub or vegetation shall extend over the sidewalk or street so as to be a sight line obstruction to motorist or to interfere with the free use of the sidewalk to its full width by pedestrians. Footnotes: --- (19) --- Amended 3-5-1990 by Ord. No. 652; 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 1198.
Sec. 214-27.1. - Corner vision obstructions. No hedge, shrubbery or full-board fence or any other obstacle than an existing building or a natural earth embankment shall be maintained or permitted at a height of more than three (3) feet above the street grade on that portion of any lot commencing at the corner point of a street line on the street side of the lot and running in either direction along the street for a distance of not less than twenty-five (25) feet and within the triangle thus formed by both street lines and a line connecting the above-mentioned termini of both street lines. Nor shall the foliage of any tree be maintained or permitted to obstruct vision within said distances.
Footnotes: --- (20) --- Editor's Note— § 214-27.1 was renumbered from former § 231-2 on 7-6-1999 by Ord. No. 899.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Under § 214-27, any owner, lessee, or person controlling land next to a city street or sidewalk must prevent hedges, grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation from extending over the sidewalk or street to the point it obstructs a pedestrian's full use of the walk or a driver's sight line. A related corner-vision rule (§ 214-27.1) caps hedges, fences, and tree foliage at 3 feet high within 25 feet of a street-corner sight triangle. Both provisions place the trimming duty on the abutting property owner, not the City, even though the vegetation may be growing on private land.
Violations & Fines
Letting vegetation overhang a public sidewalk or street, or exceeding the corner sight-triangle height limit, is a code violation; Article II penalties run $25 to $90 per offense, with each day a violation continues counted separately (§ 214-31.1).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to trim trees overhanging a Stamford sidewalk?
Is there a height limit for hedges near a Stamford street corner?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stamford
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