Street Trees

Street trees benefit you and our community in many ways, by adding charachter to our neighborhoods, cool our yards and homes, clean the air, add value to our property and aid in stormwater management.

Property owners within the City of Milford are responsible for the maintenance of trees and shrubs on their property abutting, bordering on or adjacent to the right-of-way for the protection of property or persons using the alleyway or to allow an unobstructed view of traffic from all directions.
  • Property owners must remove limbs lower than 8' above sidewalks and 12' above streets
  • Property owners must remove dead or diseased wood
  • Property owners should mulch and water trees
  • Topping of street trees is prohibited 
MUNICIPAL CODE 911.08: CONTROL OF STREET TREES

Property owners are required to submit a street tree permit before pruning, removing and/or planting trees in the right-of-way or other public places.  The permit application contains questions that will help identify the tree location and health. Trees are inspected by the city arborist to confirm that they meet the criteria fr removal or the proposed work meets the industry pruning standards. The City's role is to review, confirm conditions and make a finding based on the information provided. Property owners are responsible for the street tree removal and stump grinding.
CRITERIA FOR REMOVAL OF STREET TREES
  • The structure of the tree is proven to be a hazard to people or property (ie. major cracking or uprooting)
  • The tree is completely dead
  • The tree restricts vision for safe vehicle movement and other alternatives such as effective pruning cannot be found
  • If substantial damage is being caused to existing public utilities and alternative methods such as root pruning or root barriers will not be effective
  • Access to a property is unreasonable restricted and effective pruning cannot be carried out
  • The tree is substantially affected by a disease or insect infestation to the extent that it is beyond a cure 
Over the past several years Ohio has seen an influx or insects and diseases that are affecting our tree population and growth. Click here for information from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on what to look for if you think one of your trees might have an infestation. In an effort to keep your trees from becoming infested the City has worked with the ODNR to select recommended trees to be used when planting in the City of Milford. These trees are:
  • Serviceberry
  • American Redbud
  • Paw Paw
  • Blackhaw
  • Kentucky Coffee
  • Thornless Honeylocust
  • American Linden Basswood
  • White Fringetree
  • American Holly
  • American Yellowwood
  • Tulip Tree 

For your protection, the City recommends that you only hire properly licensed and insured contractors.