Bellevue, NE Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Intersection clearance
- 35 feet from intersecting curbs
- Driveway/alley clearance
- 15 feet
- Overhead utility line clearance
- 10 lateral feet unless small tree
- Fire hydrant clearance
- 10 feet
- Underground utility clearance
- 5 lateral feet
- Planting standard
- ANSI A300
- Default penalty
- up to $500 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
In the City of Bellevue, Nebraska, street and park trees must follow the City Tree Board's planting rules under Bellevue Code § 29.5-25: ANSI A300 planting standards, a 35-foot clearance from street intersections, 15 feet from driveways or alleys, and fixed setbacks from overhead wires, fire hydrants, and underground utility lines.
(A) Species; tree species to be discouraged. The tree board shall adopt a list of undesirable species of trees, listed by common name. ... No species in such list may be planted as street or park trees without prior approval of the tree board. (B) Standards. Trees will be planted following ANSI, A300 standards. (C) Prohibited: (1) No street tree or park tree shall be planted within 35 feet of any street intersection, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curb lines or within 15 feet of any driveway or alley. (2) No street tree or park tree other than those species listed as small trees in subsection (a) of this section may be planted under or within ten lateral feet of any overhead utility wire. (3) No street or park tree shall be planted within ten feet of any fireplug or over or within five lateral feet of any metal underground water line, transmission line or other utility line wire or main.
Full Breakdown
Bellevue Code of Ordinances § 29.5-25 governs where and what can go into the parkway. Under subsection (A), the City Tree Board keeps an adopted list of undesirable species, and no tree on that list can be planted as a street or park tree without the board's prior approval; the list, and any later changes, is kept on file with the city clerk for public review during business hours. Subsection (B) requires all planting to follow ANSI A300 tree-care standards, the same technical benchmark § 29.5-7 applies to public tree pruning and maintenance.
Subsection (C) sets three hard clearance rules: no street or park tree within 35 feet of a street intersection, measured from the nearest intersecting curbs, or within 15 feet of a driveway or alley; no street or park tree other than a species classified as "small" (defined in § 29.5-4 as topping out under 30 feet) may go under or within ten lateral feet of an overhead utility wire; and no street or park tree within ten feet of a fire hydrant, or within five lateral feet of a metal underground water line, transmission line, or other utility line or main.
These standards sit inside Chapter 29.5, the City Tree Ordinance, whose stated purpose (§ 29.5-2) is protecting public health, safety, and the city's community forest, and whose Tree Board (§ 29.5-18) reviews planting requests and enforces species and clearance limits before trees go in the ground.
Violations & Fines
Section 29.5-25 does not carry its own fine, so a planting that violates the species, ANSI-standard, or clearance rules falls under the citywide general penalty, § 1-11: up to a $500 fine, up to six months imprisonment, or both, with each day the noncompliant planting remains treated as a separate offense. Blocking Tree Board staff from correcting or removing a noncompliant planting is separately unlawful under § 29.5-27.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to a street corner can I plant a tree in Bellevue?
Can I plant any tree species under a power line in Bellevue?
Does Bellevue require a specific planting method for street trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellevue
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