Lawrence, KS Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Large tree spacing
- 40-60 feet on center
- Medium tree spacing
- min 35 feet on center
- Small tree spacing
- min 25 feet on center
- Curb/sidewalk buffer
- min 3 feet clear space
- Corner clearance
- 50 feet from intersecting curbline
Summary
In the City of Lawrence, anyone planting a tree in the public right-of-way must follow spacing and clearance rules in City Code § 18-105: large trees 40 to 60 feet apart, medium trees at least 35 feet apart, and small trees at least 25 feet apart, plus minimum distances from the curb, sidewalk and street corners.
(d)Spacing of trees should be determined by the director according to local conditions, the species, cultivars or varieties used, their mature height, spread, and form. Generally all large trees shall be planted 40 to 60 feet on center, all medium trees shall be planted a minimum of 35 feet on center; and all small trees shall be planted a minimum of 25 feet on center.(e)No tree shall be planted where the clear space between the curb and the sidewalk is less than three feet in width.(f)No tree shall be planted any nearer than one foot from the curbline or any nearer than one foot from the outer line of the sidewalk.(g)No tree or shrub shall be planted on a corner of the intersection of two streets nearer than 50 feet from the intersecting curbline of the two streets or within the triangle connecting those two points.
Full Breakdown
Section 18-105 sets the planting procedure for any tree placed in a Lawrence public right-of-way, and requires anyone who wants to deviate from these standards to apply to the parks, recreation and culture department for a street tree permit, giving the director authority to demand a detailed statement of planting intentions. The spacing rules are keyed to the tree's mature height: large trees, defined in § 18-103 as reaching 45 feet or taller, must generally be planted 40 to 60 feet on center; medium trees, 30 to 45 feet tall, need a minimum 35 feet on center; and small trees, 20 to 30 feet tall, need a minimum 25 feet on center.
No tree may be planted where the clear space between the curb and sidewalk is less than three feet wide, nor closer than one foot to the curbline or to the outer sidewalk line. Corner clearance is stricter still: no tree or shrub can be planted within 50 feet of an intersecting curbline, or inside the sightline triangle formed by that distance, and no tree may be placed anywhere it would create a traffic hazard. A tree with a trunk under one inch in diameter, measured a foot above ground, cannot be planted, and any tree with a one-to-three-inch trunk must be protected with a tree guard.
A tree planted in violation of these standards can be removed by the director at the owner's expense, assessed the same way as a special assessment.
Violations & Fines
Planting a tree that violates the § 18-105 spacing, curb-clearance or corner-sightline standards, without first obtaining a street tree permit to deviate, lets the director order the tree removed with the cost assessed against the property owner as a special assessment. Trees under an inch in trunk diameter, or planted to create a traffic hazard, are barred outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart must street trees be planted in Lawrence?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lawrence
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