Westland, MI Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Required clearance
- 8 feet above street/right-of-way
- Who must trim
- Owner of the overhanging tree
- City authority
- May trim trees blocking lights/signs
- Cure notice
- 10 days before city acts
Summary
Westland requires owners to trim tree branches overhanging a street or right-of-way to keep at least eight feet of clearance and remove dead, diseased, or dangerous limbs that endanger the public.
The owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way shall trim the branches of such trees so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any streetlamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection, and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet above the surface of the street or right-of-way. Such owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs, which constitute a menace to the safety of the public.(b)The city shall have the authority to trim any tree or shrub on private property when such tree or shrub interferes with the proper spread of light along the street from a street light or interferes with the visibility of any traffic control device or sign, such trimming to be confined to the area immediately above the right-of-way. (Code 1981, § 36-4)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 66).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 106-4 of the Westland Code of Ordinances puts the trimming duty on the property owner: branches overhanging a street or right-of-way must be kept clear of streetlights and intersection sightlines, with at least eight feet of vertical clearance above the road surface, and owners must remove dead, diseased, or dangerous limbs that threaten public safety. The city may also trim private trees or shrubs that block a streetlight or a traffic sign. If an owner ignores a trim notice under Sec. 106-9, the director of public service can have the work done and bill the cost to the property.
Violations & Fines
After ten days' written notice under Sec. 106-9, the director of public service may have the trimming done and charge the cost to the owner; unpaid costs become a lien collected with the property's taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much clearance must my tree have over the street in Westland?
What if I don't trim after the city notifies me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westland
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle tree trimming.