Tampa, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum clearance
- 8 feet above sidewalk/street
- Governing section
- Tampa Code § 22-309
- Sight-obstruction notice period
- 15 days to correct
- Uncorrected cost recovery
- Assessed as a lien on property
Summary
Tampa Code Sec. 22-309 makes it every tree owner's duty to trim branches projecting over a sidewalk or street to a height of at least eight feet, and to keep them at that clearance permanently. It is a distinct requirement from the separate sight-obstruction rule at intersections.
It is the duty of the owners of all trees, the branches of which project over or across any sidewalk or street in the city, to cause the same to be trimmed to a height of not less than eight (8) feet above the sidewalk or street over or across which the branches of such trees shall project and to keep and maintain the branches of such trees trimmed to that height above such sidewalk or street.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 148).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " The duty runs continuously, not just at planting or at a one-time inspection, so a property owner must re-trim as growth encroaches below the eight-foot line. This section sits alongside Sec. 22-308, which separately declares it a violation to plant, fix, or maintain any tree, shrubbery, or other object on a parkway or private property near a street or driveway intersection that obstructs a driver's vision or blocks sight of a traffic-control device; the city measures that obstruction against the TRR 541 (1975) sight-distance standards kept on file with the department of public works.
Where a sight obstruction (rather than simple low clearance) is found, Sec. 22-310 requires the city to serve the property owner or occupant with written notice giving fifteen days to remove the tree or shrubbery or reduce its height and width; during that fifteen-day window the property owner remains solely liable for any accident the obstruction causes. If the owner does not comply and no appeal is pending, the matter goes to the city's rehabilitation officer, who may correct the violation using city forces or an independent contractor, with all costs, including notice, title work, recording, and advertising, assessed against the property as a lien.
Violations & Fines
Letting branches hang below the eight-foot clearance over a sidewalk or street violates Sec. 22-309 and exposes the owner to code enforcement action under the city's general penalty provisions. Where low branches or shrubbery are found to obstruct a driver's line of sight under Sec. 22-308, failure to correct the obstruction within the fifteen-day notice period under Sec. 22-310 lets the city force the trim or removal through a contractor and place a lien on the property for all costs, plus any liability for accidents caused during the notice period falls on the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must Tampa property owners trim tree branches over a sidewalk?
Is low tree clearance the same violation as a sight obstruction in Tampa?
What happens if a Tampa property owner ignores a sight-obstruction notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tampa
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Tampa to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hillsborough County handle tree trimming.