West Des Moines, IA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

City Code section 7-10-7 splits maintenance duty by ownership: the City maintains trees and shrubs planted within the public right-of-way that extend over streets or sidewalks or block traffic signs, while trees and shrubs planted on private property that extend over a public street or sidewalk, or obstruct traffic signs or utilities, are the abutting property owner's responsibility, at the owner's cost, following the City Forestry Standards of Practice and Specifications. Subsection B requires proper pruning to prevent hazards: obstructed traffic signs, blocked views at street and alley intersections, blocked street lighting and obstructed walks, trails or streets.

The minimum vertical clearance is 14 feet between a street surface and the lowest branch, and 8 feet between a sidewalk, trail or other pedestrian way and the lowest branch. Separately, corner lots and lots next to an alley carry a 'vision triangle' limit within 25 feet of the right-of-way intersection: plantings there cannot exceed 2 feet in height, and branches reaching into that triangle from outside it must clear 10 feet, measured from curb elevation. A business that trims, prunes or sprays trees on private property in the city must carry insurance, and one working on public trees must add the City as an additional insured and post proof before starting work, under section 7-10-9.

Violations are enforced the same way as other chapter 7-10 tree offenses, through written notice from the Code Enforcement Officer or City Forester and municipal infraction penalties.