This is the time of year to trim your trees along the public right-of-way. The City of Hood River requires residents to trim their trees in the public right-of-way. Please pile the branches by the tree (not in the street). Public Works will pick up the branches when we are in your area – public works will begin trimming trees in the highlighted area on the map below on January 20th.
To ensure public safety, all trees planted within or extending into the public right-of-way must be trimmed to a height of not less than 9 feet above the sidewalk and not less than 14 feet above the street, curb, or alley. Shrubs, trees, etc. that become a hazard or limits emergency, maintenance, or delivery vehicles from providing needed services, are required to be trimmed or if deemed necessary, removed. The right-of-way line is typically approximately 5 feet behind the curb unless there is a planter strip, and then the right-of-way line will be approximately 10 feet from back of curb.
Public Works will start trimming trees on January 20th in the highlighted area below.
Note: If the trees are not trimmed to the City Ordinance, Public Works will trim them accordingly.
Chapter 13.12 of the Hood River Municipal Code (HRMC) provides authority for the City to address vegetation in and adjacent to City Right-of-Way. As per HRMC, it is the adjacent property owner’s responsibility to trim vegetation within the public right-of-way.
For horizontal clearances the requirement for sidewalks is that pedestrian traffic not be impeded. Typically, trees and brush must not extend into the sidewalk area. At street, alley, and driveway intersections, the visual clearance area is a 15-foot triangle formed by measuring 15 feet along the curb line or edge of the drivable surface where no curb exists, and 15 feet along the edge of the intersecting street, alley, or driveway. The third side of the triangle is formed by extending a line between the ends of the 15-foot lines.
A drawing showing the clearance requirements is included with this letter.
