City of Rensselaer, NY Chapter 163 Trees and Shrubs

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Rensselaer as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

Article I Planting and Care on Streets and in Public Places

[Adopted 6-22-1920; amended in its entirety 8-15-1990 by L.L. No. 4-1990]

§ 163-1 Rules and regulations.

A. The Commissioner of Public Works shall have exclusive control of all the trees and shrubs on all the streets and public places of the City, with full power to plant, maintain, prune, spray or remove from the same.

B. No shade or ornamental tree or shrub shall be planted in any of the streets or public places of the City without a permit therefor issued by the Commissioner of Public Works designating the kind and species of tree or shrub and the location where same is to be planted. No permit to plant poplar trees will be granted.

C. No person shall trim, spray or remove any tree or shrub in any of the streets or public places of the City without a permit therefor issued by the Commissioner of Public Works.

D. Owners desiring to have trees planted along the sidewalk in front of their property may, upon application to the Commissioner of Public Works and payment to the City Treasurer of the cost thereof, which shall be credited to the Street Fund, have trees furnished, planted and provided with guards by the Commissioner of Public Works. Contractors occupying City streets for building purposes shall place such proper guards about all trees liable to injury as shall effectually protect them.

E. No person shall pour salt or saltwater upon any of the streets or public places of the City in such a manner as to expose to injury any trees or shrubs planted or growing thereon.

F. No person shall negligently, carelessly or maliciously break, down, injure, cut or destroy a tree or shrub in any of the streets or public places of the City.

G. No officer or employee of a corporation or no individual shall, without a written permit issued by the Commissioner of Public Works, cut, disturb or interfere with the roots of any tree or place ropes, chains or signs on a tree or guard or string wires or cables through or to any tree in any of the streets or public places of the City.

H. No person shall, without a written permit issued by the Commissioner of Public Works, place or hereafter maintain upon the ground outside of the trunk of said tree having an area not less than three feet square.

I. No person shall handle, remove, deface or destroy any label or sign on or near any of the trees or shrubs planted or maintained by the City of Rensselaer.

§ 163-2 Penalties for offenses.

Any person offending or violating any of the above rules and regulations for the planting, protection and care of trees and shrubs on the street or public places of the City shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 for each offense or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both.

Article II Carolina or Common Poplar

[Adopted 1-10-1922; amended in its entirety 8-15-1990 by L.L. No. 4-1990]

§ 163-3 Planting prohibited; penalties for offenses.

No person or persons shall set, plant or maintain or cause to be set, planted or maintained any tree known as the "Carolina or common poplar" within or adjacent to the boundaries of any street in said City, and any person who shall maintain or suffer to remain after reasonable notice by the Commissioner of Public Works of said City to remove such tree shall, upon conviction thereof, incur a penalty not exceeding $250 or imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both, for each day any such tree shall remain after notice to remove.