Landscape Issues

Wow! Trees really do grow a lot in a growing season. It’s hard to believe that little tree planted out by the street now fills much of the front yard. If there is plenty of space for the tree to grow it isn’t a problem and my neighbors and I can enjoy the tree’s beauty for many years. If, however, the tree grows over a public street or sidewalk then I must comply with the ordinances of the City of Tulsa and keep the tree trimmed. Here is the ordinance that addresses this matter.

A. All trees, hedges, signs or other obstructions, or any portion of the same, located within a sight-distance triangle which prevent persons driving vehicles approaching an intersection of streets from having a clear view of traffic approaching such intersection. Sight-distance triangle shall mean the area within an imaginary triangle formed at a street corner as follows: Extend the curb lines (or the edge of the pavement where no curbs exist) into the street to a point where those lines intersect; from that point of intersection, measure along both curb lines (or edges of pavement) to two points, each of which is thirty-five (35) feet from the point of intersection; the connecting of these three points shall form the sight-distance triangle B. All limbs of trees which project over a public sidewalk or street and which are less than eight (8) feet above the surface of the public sidewalk and nine (9) feet above the surface of the street;

Any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other legal entity who commits or who permits the creation or continuation of a nuisance as above defined which poses a potential emergency threat to the public health or the environment shall immediately report the incident to the Director of the Tulsa City-County Health Department and shall provide any information requested by the Director needed to investigate or abate the potential emergency. Ord. No. 17942