No person, firm or organization shall plant or allow to grow any tree or shrub or other growth in or upon any boulevard, median strip, terrace or public property without permission of the City Forester and in conformance with the below regulations.

Property owners wishing to plant a tree in the tree terrace and street right-of-way must first obtain a planting permit from the city forester at no charge.A permit is required so that undesirable species of trees can be kept off the street right-of-way.  Undesirable trees (silver maples and box elders) cause many problems such as:  clogged sanitary sewer pipes, uprooting of sidewalks/curbs, and conflicts with utility lines.  They are very brittle, weak-wooded trees, susceptible to frequent storm damage.  The key to successful planting is to choose the proper tree for each location.A Forestry Department representative will contact each property owner and meet with them to evaluate the proposed planting site.  All sites must meet the requirements set forth in the city’s street tree ordinance.

Tree Planting Permit Application

List of Recommended Trees to Plant

A.  No tree or shrub shall be planted in the terrace at an intersection of two streets nearer than 25 feet to either corner measured on the property line, in compliance with the Watertown Zoning Code setback requirements in Chapter 550 of this Code.

B.  No tree or shrub shall be planted in the terrace nearer than 35 feet to the next nearest tree, except as approved by the City Forester.

 C.  No tree or shrub shall be planted in the terrace where the clear terrace space is less than 4 1/2 feet or as may be otherwise provided by City Forester.

 D.  No tree or shrub shall be planted nearer to the back of curb than 1/2 of the clear space of the terrace.

 E.  No tree or shrub shall be planted in the terrace nearer than 10 feet to a water stop box, waterline or sewer line.

 F.  No softwood tree or any tree that is not hardy for the Watertown area, as determined by the City Forester, shall be planted in any street terrace.

 G.  No tree or shrub shall be planted in the terrace near an ornamental streetlight when the foliage of the tree will obstruct the streetlight illumination pattern.

 H.  No trees or shrubs other than those species listed as small trees in the City's Approved Species List[1] may be planted under or adjacent to any overhead utility wires where such tree or shrub will be likely to interfere with such overhead utility wires.

I.  No person, firm or organization shall plant or set out a tree or shrub in or upon any boulevard, terrace or public property unless the tree or shrub is a species listed in the City's Approved Species List or a species approved by the City Forester.

J.  All trees and shrubs planted in boulevards, median strips, terraces and on other public property in the City shall be planted according to tree/shrub planting standards developed by the Park, Recreation and Forestry Commission and made available to the general public by the City Forester.

§ 484-9Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter or any order, rule or regulation made by the Park, Recreation and Forestry Commission or the City Forester hereunder shall be subject to the penalties provided herein or those penalties set forth in § 1-4 of this Code