Bowling Green's tree code is consolidated in Chapter XXVI (Public Trees) of the Code of Ordinances, sections 26-1 through 26-12. The Bowling Green Community Tree Advisory Board (§ 26-4) advises the City; § 26-5 governs public tree planting and species selection; § 26-6 addresses tree topping; § 26-7 sets vegetation maintenance and ANSI A300 pruning standards; § 26-8 requires City approval to remove a public tree; § 26-9 regulates tree care companies; §§ 26-10–26-12 cover abatement, penalties, and enforcement. Bowling Green has been a Tree City USA continuously since 1994.
Bowling Green Code of Ordinances Chapter XXVI — Public Trees — contains: § 26-1 (Title), § 26-2 (Definitions), § 26-3 (Interference with the City prohibited), § 26-4 (Bowling Green Community Tree Advisory Board), § 26-5 (Public Tree Planting, including 26-5.01 Specifications, 26-5.02 Undesirable Tree Species, 26-5.03 Suggested Tree Species), § 26-6 (Tree Topping), § 26-7 (Vegetation Maintenance — ANSI A300 + 15-foot ROW clearance), § 26-8 (Tree Removal — City approval required for public trees), § 26-9 (Tree Care and Removal Companies), § 26-10 (Abatement), § 26-11 (Penalties), and § 26-12 (Enforcement). The Tree Advisory Board was established in 1994 and meets the fourth Monday of each month (September–April) at 4:30 PM at the Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Center (225 East Third Avenue; 270-393-3249). Bowling Green has held Tree City USA designation continuously since 1994 (Arbor Day Foundation / USDA Forest Service / National Association of State Foresters). Enforcement runs through the Bowling Green Code Enforcement and Nuisance Board under Code § 2-21, authorized by KRS 65.8801–65.8839. Site plan landscape standards for new development are layered on through the Warren County/BG Joint Zoning Ordinance Article 4.6.8 administered by the City County Planning Commission of Warren County. Private-property tree care is largely unregulated by the City — Kentucky has no statewide private-tree protection.
Major Chapter XXVI violations: (1) removing/cutting/disturbing a public tree without § 26-8 approval — abatement under § 26-10, penalties under § 26-11; (2) topping a public tree contrary to § 26-6; (3) failing to maintain 15-ft ROW clearance or pruning a public tree outside ANSI A300 standards (§ 26-7); (4) tree care company operating contrary to § 26-9; (5) interfering with City tree work (§ 26-3). Adjacent enforcement: IPMC § 302.4 (10-inch weed/grass — Ch. 27); KRS 364.130 (cutting timber on another's land — treble damages).
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