West Palm Beach, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- no vegetation blocking street/sidewalk travel
- Also bars
- growth blocking intersection/sign sightlines
- Owner duty extends to
- swale, half the alley right-of-way
- Correction window
- 10 days
- Fine
- up to $250/day, enhanced $1,000/day
Summary
City Code § 74-4(c)(4) requires every lot in West Palm Beach to be kept free of vegetation and trees that overhang a sidewalk, street, or public place enough to impede travel or block sightlines to intersections, signs, or railroad crossings. Owners must trim back growth that creates that hazard, and enforcement runs through the same code-enforcement process as other overgrowth violations.
(4)All lands in the city shall be kept free of all vegetation or trees that overhang any sidewalk, street or other public place in such a way as to impede or interfere with traffic or travel on such sidewalk, street, public place or way, or that create a danger to traffic by impeding or obstructing the view of intersections, traffic signs, railroad crossings or traffic on any street, road, or highway.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 76).
Full Breakdown
' Section 74-4(c)(5) puts the duty on the owner or occupant of the property, improved or unimproved, and extends it to the swale and half of any bordering alley right-of-way, since overhanging branches frequently originate from a tree planted well back from the property line. Section 74-4(c)(6) separately requires any hired tree trimmer, tree surgeon, or landscape contractor working on the property to haul away everything cut, rather than leaving debris in the right-of-way. A code enforcement officer inspects and cites under § 74-81, the owner gets ten days to trim under § 74-84(2) unless the obstruction is an immediate safety hazard under § 74-84(3), and an uncorrected violation lets the city or a contractor cut the vegetation and lien the property for the cost under § 74-85(a).
Violations & Fines
An unresolved sidewalk or street obstruction can be referred to the special magistrate under Chapter 26, where § 26-35(a) authorizes a fine of up to $250.00 per day of continued violation, or up to $500.00 per day for a repeat offense. The magistrate can raise those figures to $1,000.00 per day for a first offense and $5,000.00 per day for a repeat, with a $15,000.00 ceiling for an irreparable condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to trim a tree that hangs over the sidewalk in front of my West Palm Beach house?
What if the overhanging branch is blocking a stop sign instead of the sidewalk?
Who has to clean up after a tree trimmer cuts back my overhanging branches?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Palm Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare West Palm Beach to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle tree trimming.