Street Trees

Street trees play a vital role in creating healthier, more vibrant communities. They provide shade, reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and help manage stormwater by absorbing runoff. Street trees also enhance the aesthetic appeal of neighborhoods, calm traffic, and increase property values. Beyond their environmental benefits, they contribute to community well-being by making streets more walkable and inviting. 

If you have a street tree located in the parking or public right of way that appears dead or dying, please submit a request for removal so it can be properly assessed and addressed.  Please do not cut down or plant a street tree without checking with City Hall.  

Street Tree Removal and Planting Request Form

Approved Trees for Street Tree Planting

STREET TREE PLANTING STANDARDS. The following standards shall govern the planting of street trees:

  1. No tree may be planted which would cause a public danger or nuisance.
  2. No tree may be planted within three feet of a sidewalk or other impervious surface such as the curb and gutter or the street surface.
  3. No tree or shrub that will grow above 30 inches in height shall be planted on a corner lot where two street intersect for a distance of 35 feet in any direction from the point of intersection at the curb line.
  4. No tree shall be planted within 15 lateral feet of an overhead utility line, within 3 feet of any buried utility line, within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, within 5 feet of a driveway and 25 feet of a traffic control sign.
  5. No tree shall be planted if the tree species is not included on the list of permitted tree species developed by the Winterset Tree Commission.
  6. No tree shall be planted without first calling Iowa One Call and complying with the procedures for locating underground utilities.

In cases of damage to utility lines, any street tree planted in the right-of-way may be trimmed or removed in order to repair the utility line.

Responsibility for Street Tree Maintenance:
Property owners or residents are responsible for keeping street trees trimmed so that branches hang no lower than eight feet above public sidewalks. They must also trim any branches that touch or hang over their home or commercial building, and remove damaged limbs over private property that could pose a hazard or nuisance. Meanwhile, the City is responsible for maintaining the portions of street trees that extend over public streets or alleys, including removing branches that block visibility near intersections or traffic signs.