Westfield, IN Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Deciduous caliper min.
- 2 in. at 12 in. above grade
- Small tree spacing
- 25 ft apart, 2 ft from curb
- Large tree spacing
- 45 ft apart, 4 ft from curb
- Clear vision triangle
- 40 ft (collectors), 75 ft (arterials)
- Hydrant clearance
- 10 feet minimum
- Planting permit
- parks & recreation dept., 6-month tag
Summary
Westfield sets minimum trunk caliper for deciduous, evergreen and ornamental trees planted in city rights-of-way and requires wide spacing from other trees, curbs and fire hydrants. A parks department permit is required before a property owner plants in the abutting right-of-way strip.
(c)Caliper.(1)Deciduous trees shall measure at minimum two caliper inches 12 inches above grade.(2)Evergreen trees shall measure at minimum six feet from grade.(3)Ornamental trees shall measure at minimum two caliper inches six inches above finished grade. ... Except as specifically authorized by the city parks and recreation department and the city public works department the spacing of trees shall be in accordance with the following sizes and no tree may be planted (as measured from the center of the tree): (1)Closer than the following:a.Small trees, 25 feet;b.Medium trees, 35 feet;c.Large trees, 45 feet.(2)Closer to any curb, curb line, or sidewalk than the following:a.Small trees, two feet;b.Medium trees, three feet;c.Large trees, four feet.(3)Within clear vision triangle of 40 feet on collectors, local roads and streets, and 75 feet for primary arterials and secondary arterials, measured from the point of the nearest intersection curbs or curb lines.(4)Within ten feet of any fire hydrant.
Full Breakdown
Article VI's public-trees standards, adopted by Ordinance No. 07-27 in 2007, apply to street and park trees planted within or overhanging public property, including rights-of-way. Section 34-144(c) fixes minimum caliper at planting: deciduous trees must measure at least two caliper inches 12 inches above grade, evergreens at least six feet from grade, and ornamentals at least two caliper inches six inches above finished grade, and all stock must be hardy to the region, free of disease and insects, and conform to the American Standard for Nursery Stock.
Section 34-146 then sets spacing so trees don't crowd streetscapes or infrastructure: small trees can be planted no closer than 25 feet to each other, medium trees 35 feet, and large trees 45 feet, measured from the trunk center; near curbs or sidewalks the minimums drop to two, three, and four feet respectively for small, medium and large trees. No tree may sit within a 40-foot clear vision triangle on collector or local streets (75 feet on arterials) or within ten feet of a fire hydrant.
Under section 34-147, an individual property owner who wants to plant in the right-of-way strip abutting their land must first get a permit from the parks and recreation department, submitting a site plan, plant schedule, proof of ownership, and watering plan; the approved permit is tagged to the tree for six months. The city's own crews, under section 34-145, remain responsible for planting, pruning and maintaining street and park trees to enhance public safety.
Violations & Fines
Planting without the required parks-department permit, or outside the caliper and spacing standards in sections 34-144 and 34-146, makes the planting non-conforming; the city may require correction or removal at the property owner's expense, and section 34-148 lets code enforcement issue a written notice giving the abutting owner seven days to bring an out-of-compliance tree into conformity before the city acts and bills the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the right-of-way in front of my Westfield home?
How far apart must street trees be planted in Westfield?
What size trunk is required when planting a street tree in Westfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westfield
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