Tree and Shrub Care for Safety
Did You Know You Can't Let It Go?
As a property owner you have a responsibility to prune tree limbs and vegetation along the street. It's true! The City of Olympia says so and it is all about safety.
Intersections
If you live at an intersection, you must keep shrubbery pruned back in what is known as the Vision Clearance Triangle. The triangle must be kept clear of obstructions between a height of 2’ 6” and 10 feet. The triangle reaches back 20 feet on both legs from the corner. Keep this area clear to provide for vehicle safety, and to allow drivers to see approaching traffic.
Limbs and Shrubbery Overhanging Streets
Tree limbs and shrubbery overhanging streets must be cut back. In this case, the property owner is required to remove all vegetation and limbs from ground level, at the street edge, to a height of 14 feet. This provides clearance for passing vehicles, while allowing vehicles to fully use their travel lane.
Good neighbors try to keep their trees and plants from encroaching on the road, but there is another benefit for doing so. The property owner could be found liable for damage to vehicles caused by failure to perform the required pruning. Ouch! This can result in expensive claims against your home owners insurance, and result in your paying sizable deductibles.
City of Olympia code enforcement officers make periodic inspections of neighborhoods looking for vegetative encroachment onto streets. When found, the property owner is notified, and if nothing is done, the city will do the pruning and bill the owner. A lien on the property is even possible.
All this can be avoided by simply pruning your trees and shrubs!
