Stratford, CT Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered growth
- Grass, weeds, brush, shrubbery, hedge or rubbish
- Standard
- No obstruction of sidewalk, street or vision
- Compliance window
- 15 days from service of the notice
- Notice signed by
- The Mayor and the Chief of Police
- Fine for willful refusal
- Not more than $25, plus cost of the work
- Nuisance tree notice
- 10 days' written notice by registered mail (§ 200-4)
Summary
In the Town of Stratford, Connecticut, no one can let grass, weeds, brush, shrubbery or a hedge on land next to a sidewalk or street obstruct its use or block clear vision along it. After written notice from the Mayor and Chief of Police the owner has 15 days, then the Town fixes it and the cost becomes a lien.
§ 214-6. Obstruction of sidewalks and vision. No person shall suffer or permit any grass, weeds, brush, shrubbery, hedge or rubbish to remain upon land immediately adjacent to any sidewalk or street in such a manner as to obstruct, impede or hamper the free use of any sidewalk or street in the Town, nor to impair free and unobstructed vision along any sidewalk or street. ... Upon notice in writing signed by the Mayor and the Chief of Police, duly served upon any person in the manner that civil process is served, that any condition described in § 214-6 exists, such person shall forthwith remedy such condition in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Mayor or the Chief of the Police Department, and if such condition is not so remedied within a period of 15 days from the serving of such notice, then the Town shall proceed to remedy such condition and charge the costs thereof to such person so failing, and such costs shall be a lien upon the property occupied by such person where the condition existed, and such lien shall date from the time such notice was served and may be foreclosed in the same manner as liens for taxes.
Full Breakdown
Stratford Code § 214-6 is the clearance rule. It bars any person from suffering or permitting grass, weeds, brush, shrubbery, hedge or rubbish to remain upon land immediately adjacent to any sidewalk or street so as to obstruct, impede or hamper free use of the sidewalk or street, or to impair free and unobstructed vision along it. The section prints no minimum clearance height; the test is obstruction of use and of sight lines.
Section 214-7 sets the procedure. The notice is in writing, signed by the Mayor and the Chief of Police, and served in the manner that civil process is served. The person must remedy the condition forthwith, in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Mayor or the Chief of the Police Department. If the condition is not remedied within 15 days of service, the Town proceeds to remedy it and charges the costs to the person, and the costs become a lien on the property dating from the time notice was served, foreclosable in the same manner as liens for taxes. Under § 214-8, a person who willfully refuses is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is fined not more than $25, in addition to the cost of remedying the condition.
Trees have their own rules. Chapter 200 declares a public nuisance any tree on private property whose root system interferes with the public sanitary or storm sewer or changes the elevation of a public sidewalk, curb or street pavement (§ 200-3). The Director of Public Works gives the record owner 10 days' written notice by registered mail (§ 200-4), and the owner can take responsibility in writing within that period, with removal done within 30 days of the original mailing (§ 200-6). Otherwise Public Works removes it at the owner's expense under § 200-5. The Director of Public Works is also the Tree Warden for Town-owned trees (§ 200-9). Tree work over a roadbed on high-traffic roads requires flagmen or other safety personnel under § 186-55.
Violations & Fines
After written notice signed by the Mayor and the Chief of Police, the owner has 15 days to clear the obstruction. If not, the Town does the work, the cost becomes a lien on the property, and that lien can be foreclosed like a tax lien. A willful refusal is a misdemeanor with a fine of not more than $25 under § 214-8, in addition to the cost of the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to trim a hedge that blocks a Stratford sidewalk?
How long do I have after a Stratford notice?
What if a private tree's roots are damaging the sidewalk?
Who handles trees on Town property in Stratford?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stratford
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