Huron Municipal Code Ch. 12.12 Trees

Except as hereinafter provided, from and after September 1, 1979, no tree or trees shall be planted or transplanted in public property or rights-of-way or planted on private property so as to hang over public property except those trees designated upon an approved street tree list as specified by City planning commission. In the event any person desires to plant a tree within a public right-of-way or which may overhang a public right-of-way which tree is not upon the approved street tree list, such planting may be permitted if authorized by the city administrator of the City of Huron. The city administrator shall not issue any such permit unless he finds and determines that such tree is of a variety having desirable characteristics with regard to surface roots, disease, falling leaves and other qualities pertinent to the maintenance of preferable street trees in the City of Huron.

(Ord. 104 § 1, 1979)

Whenever it becomes necessary to remove a tree to prevent damage to sidewalk or curbs or to make room for sidewalk or street construction or to remove a dying, dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous tree, such tree or trees will be removed by City forces at the request of the owner of the property abutting that portion of the public right-of-way where the tree is located; provided, however, upon removal thereof the property owner shall replace the tree with a tree of an approved type as designated on the approved street tree list unless the area from which the tree was removed is no longer suitable for planting. Nothing in this section, however, shall preclude the removal by City forces of any tree without the request of a property owner.

(Ord. 104 § 2, 1979)

During the erection, repair, alteration or removal of any building, house or structure in the City, no person in charge of such work shall leave any tree, shrub or plant in any street, park, pleasure ground, boulevard, alley or public place of the City in the vicinity of such building or structure without such good or sufficient guards or protectors as shall prevent injury to the tree, shrub or plant arising out of or by reason of the erection, repair, alteration or removal.

(Ord. 104 § 3, 1979)

Any trees or shrubs growing in a public parking strip or in any public place or in private property which are endangering or which in any way may endanger the security or usefulness of any public street, sewer, sidewalk or the full and safe operation of public utility wires are hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and the city administrator may require the property owner to remove or trim any such tree on private property or on a parking strip abutting upon said owner's property.

(Ord. 104 § 4, 1979)

It is unlawful to abuse, destroy or mutilate any tree, shrub or plant in a public parking strip or any other public place, or to attach or place any rope or wire (other than one used to support a young or broken tree), sign, poster, handbill or other thing to or on any tree growing in a public place, or to cause or permit any wire charged with electricity to be attached to any such tree, or to allow any gaseous, liquid or solid substance which is harmful to such trees to come in contact with their roots or leaves.

(Ord. 104 § 5, 1979)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail or a period of not more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 104 § 6, 1979)