October 2019 Please retain a copy for your records.
Street Tree Planting Standards
Please read this document and complete the Street Tree Planting Permit
form on the following page. All standards must be followed for the tree
planting permit to be valid.
Site requirements:
Prior to planting, call Underground Service Alert (USA) at 811 or online at 811express.com
to identify
the location of underground utilities. Do not dig until the inspection is complete and your location meets
the tree placement standards listed below.
Tree standards:
Only species on the current Official Street Tree Species List
at the time of planting are allowed
The species must be appropriate for the planting site location (consider water needs, size at
maturity, and maintenance needs when making your decision)
Minimum container size for all new trees is 15 gallons
Every tree planted must comply with the American Standard for Nursery Stock
(ANSI Z160.1)
Tree placement standards:
Minimum of five feet (5’) from below ground utility lines, including but not limited to sewer, gas,
and water
Minimum of five feet (5’) from above ground street fixtures, including but not limited to fire
hydrants, utility poles or cabinets, bicycle racks, and parking meters
Minimum of five feet (5’) from residential driveway curb cuts or ten feet (10’) from commercial
driveway curb cuts (per OPW standards)
Minimum of five feet (5’) from parking control, traffic warning, pedestrian, or other
informational traffic signs
Minimum of twenty feet (20’) from streetlamps, traffic signals, or regulatory traffic signs
(including but not limited to “stop” and “yield” signs)
Minimum of twenty feet (20’) between trees
Sidewalks must be a minimum of forty-eight inches (48”) in width to comply with the Americans
Disabilities Act (ADA)
Planting location cannot be within a bus stop zone or a disabled parking zone
Overhead high voltage power lines: Only trees listed as “small” (maximum 25’ tall at maturity) in
the height category on the Official Street Tree list are allowable under high voltage power lines
Watering:
Water trees 20 gallons p
er week for the first three years after planting
Recommendations:
C
onsult with and/or hire an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) to choose
the appropriate tree species for your specific location. Visit www.treesaregood.org
to find an ISA-
certified arborist.
