City of Greensburg, PA Chapter 246 Trees

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Greensburg 10-7-1910. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 193.

§ 246-1 Restricted tree species; removal by city; costs.

[Amended 7-1-1963 by Ord. No. 705; 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, association, firm or corporation to plant or cause or allow to be planted, along any of the streets or alleys in the City of Greensburg or at any location upon private grounds from which the roots thereof can endanger any sewer or water main located upon any street or alley, any willow tree or any Carolina poplar tree. The owner of property upon or abutting which any tree is planted in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be responsible for removing such tree upon notice to do so from the City Council, in default of which the city may remove or cause such tree to be removed and collect the cost of such removal, with an additional amount of 10% from such defaulting property owner.

§ 246-2 Responsibility of property owners to keep trees trimmed.

[Added 12-9-1955 by Ord. No. 482; amended 8-8-1988 by Ord. No. 1378]

All shade trees shall be kept trimmed by the owners of the property on or in front of which they are located as follows:

A. So as not to interfere with the proper lighting of public highways by streetlights.

B. So that the minimum clearance of any overhanging portion upon any public highway or street or alleyway shall be 12 feet, provided that the Municipal/Consulting Engineer shall have the authority to designate a higher clearance on any public way where heavy traffic or other conditions make it expedient.

[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]

C. All bushes or other vegetation other than shade trees shall be kept trimmed so as not to overhang onto a public thoroughfare or sidewalk so as to in any way obstruct the movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

D. No owners of property shall permit to remain standing diseased trees or parts of trees, shrubbery or vegetation which would in any way endanger vehicular or pedestrian traffic on any sidewalk, street or alley opened to the public.

§ 246-3 Authority of city to have trees trimmed; costs.

[Amended 8-8-1988 by Ord. No. 1378; 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]

If any property owner shall neglect or refuse to trim any shade tree, shrubbery or other vegetation as required by this chapter, upon notice, in writing, from the Building and Fire Code Enforcement Department, within the time limit specified in such notice, the Building and Fire Code Enforcement Department may cause such trimming to be done, at the expense of the owner, and the entire cost thereof shall be a lien upon said premises, and a claim therefore shall be filed and collected by the City Solicitor as in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.

§ 246-4 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 12-9-1955 by Ord. No. 482; 7-1-1963 by Ord. No. 720; 8-8-1988 by Ord. No. 1378; 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]

Any person who shall violate or fail to comply with any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each succeeding day of violation or failure to compliance with the provisions of this chapter will constitute a separate offense, subjecting the property owner to an additional fine for violation.