Brian Wolyniak Urban Forester Penn State Extension ORDINANCES TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE TREE POPULATIONS

Managing Natural Resources: A Guide for Municipal Commissions Available online: pubs.cas.psu.edu RESOURCES

 Poor administration  Poor decision- making  Poor site analysis and design  Poor maintenance URBAN FOREST PROBLEMS  Lack of commitment  Lack of community awareness and support  Low funding and priority

 Police power  Authority to protect safety, health, and welfare of all people  State codes and legislation establish powers of municipal governments  Ordinances provide legal standing  More difficult to change than a resolution ORDINANCES

 Riparian, floodplain, steep slope, and wetland  Restricts areas from development, grading, and vegetation removal  Stormwater  Regulates impervious surfaces, peak flows, and landscaping  Timber harvest  Regulates timber harvest activities  Zoning  Regulates density and type of land use, including tree and natural resource protection  Subdivision and land development  Procedural and design standards for development  Can specify placement of trees and landscaping, sidewalks, etc.  Tree preservation  Preserves and protects trees and their growing environment in development TYPES OF ORDINANCES

 Street/shade tree  Protects and enhances municipal- owned trees on streets and in parks and other municipal-owned space  Manages hazardous or nuisance trees  Manages disease and insect problems  Usually only applies to public property  Establishes and provides authority of shade tree commission TYPES OF ORDINANCES

 Location  Where in municipal code  Purpose  Why needed, what does  Definitions  Establishment and authority of tree commission  Completion and review of community tree plan  Duties/Authority  Who - urban forester/arborist STREET TREE ORDINANCE CONTENTS

 Permits  Removal, pruning, planting  Permit process  Administrative or tree commission  Arboriculture practices  Appendix  Public safety/nuisance  private and public property  Protection of trees  Also use zoning ordinance  Appeal procedure  commission or other  Enforcement and restitution STREET TREE ORDINANCE CONTENTS

Brian Urban Forester Penn State Extension Allegheny County Office