Pottstown, PA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Approval process
- Public Works approves site plus PA One Call
- Curb/sidewalk spacing
- 1.5 to 3 ft by tree group
- Underground utility clearance
- 10 ft from all utility lines
- Street corner clearance
- 50 ft from curbline intersection
- Fire hydrant clearance
- 10 ft minimum
- Enforcing agency
- Public Works Department
- Maximum fine
- $600 per violation
Summary
Pottstown regulates every tree planted in a street right-of-way under Chapter 25, Part 1. Before a resident plants a street tree, the Public Works Department must research underground utilities, run a PA One Call, and approve the exact location, and the property owner must sign an acknowledgment form accepting maintenance duties.
The tree shall be planted halfway between the curb and sidewalk and halfway in the length of the planting bed area as required by the tree species group. ... Distance from Curbs and Sidewalks. The distance trees shall be planted from the curb and sidewalk shall be in accordance with the tree group list. No tree may be planted closer than the following: ... Group A trees shall be planted 1.5 feet from the face of curb and 1.5 feet from the edge of the sidewalk. ... No tree shall be planted closer than 50 feet to any street corner. The setback shall be measured from the point of the intersection of the two curblines and 15 feet from driveways and alleys. No tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet to a fire hydrant.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5012545; v22 updated 2026-07-13; through 07-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 25, Section 104 governs planting on public rights-of-way in Pottstown. A property owner who wants a street tree files a planting application with the Public Works Department, which researches underground pipes and wires, requests a PA One Call to locate utilities, and lets the Director of Public Works approve or reject the spot. If the first location will not work, Public Works must offer an alternate; only if none exists can it reject the application outright. Once approved, the owner signs an acknowledgment form describing maintenance responsibilities before planting begins.
5 feet from the curb and sidewalk edge, Group B two feet, and Group C three feet. No tree may go within 10 feet of any underground electric, gas, water, sewer or stormwater line, all measured from the trunk center. Trees under overhead wires must come from the Group A list, and pole or streetlight clearance runs 20, 30 or 40 feet by group. No tree may sit within 50 feet of a street corner curbline intersection, 15 feet of a driveway or alley, or 10 feet of a fire hydrant, and none may line up with a doorway opening onto the sidewalk. The Public Works Director administers the whole Part and licenses commercial tree companies working in the Borough.
Violations & Fines
Section 108 makes the Public Works Department the enforcement authority for Chapter 25. Anyone who violates a planting or maintenance provision faces a fine of up to $600 per violation on conviction, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense and each tree affected counted separately. Where a tree is removed or damaged in violation, the offender also owes replacement cost of $100 per inch of trunk diameter at breast height, payable to the Borough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Borough approval to plant a tree in front of my Pottstown house?
How close to a fire hydrant can I plant a street tree in Pottstown?
What happens if a tree is planted too close to an underground utility line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pottstown
Compare Pottstown to another location·View the Pennsylvania tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.