While green spaces provide a variety of environmental, economic, and health benefits, trees affected with disease or weakened by climatic factors can become unpredictable.
Thus, to protect both our land and community, it is important for landowners to control and abate trees that pose a hazard to the community. The following is declared a nuisance by Chapter 6-2: Tree Management: Nuisance, Disease, and Insect Control:
- living or dead elm with Dutch Elm Disease
- dead elm material (logs, branches, stumps)
- living or dead oak tree with Oak Wilt Fungus
- living or dead ash material infected with
- Emerald Ash Borer that can affect public property and is unsuitable for treatment
- any tree creating a public hazard
- any standing dead trees or brush
The Rules
Property Owner Responsibility
Sick or dead trees can become unstable and encourage the spread of disease to other city trees. Thus, dead trees throughout the city are to be removed. Property owners are responsible for maintaining vegetation and treating or removing trees on private property that pose a direct hazard to the public. It is
important to note that the land between the street and sidewalk (boulevard) is public property. Property owners are also responsible for maintaining vegetation along boulevards, except for trees.
City Responsibility
All trees located in public boulevards are managed by the City of Rochester. Moreover, park commissioners, officers, and employees of the Parks & Recreation Department are authorized and responsible for public safety. If a private tree poses a threat, they are authorized to enter private property to conduct further inspection and enact necessary action to abate the issue.
Dial 328-2515 to report a tree that is dead orsuspected to have a disease.
Transporting Firewood
No person shall transport within the city any elm wood, EAB-infested ash, or oak wilt-infected bark without having obtained a permit.
The Process
- The property owner is notified in writing, by mail, or in person of the condition.
- Tree removal will occur in manner determined by the city if nuisance is not abated within outlined timeline.
- Removal costs from the lowest bidder (a licensed tree care company approved by the city) and a $37.50 administrative fee will be billed to the property owner.
- Fee will be collected and returned in the same manner as other city taxes.