Property owners in Wilmington are responsible for trimming trees on their property to prevent public nuisances. Street trees are managed by the city.
Wilmington property owners must maintain trees so branches do not encroach on streets or sidewalks below clearance heights (typically 8 feet over sidewalks, 14 feet over streets). Street trees are maintained by the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation. Permits may be required to trim or remove street trees.
Failure to trim hazardous branches can result in citations and liability for damages.
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See how Wilmington's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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