Street Tree FAQ

Who owns the street trees located between the curb and sidewalk?

All trees planted within the public right-of-way are the property of the City of Frederick, which are regulated under the State of Maryland Roadside Tree Care Laws.

Am I allowed to have a tree planted in front of my property; and, if so, what steps do I have to follow to do so?

The owner will have to fill out a tree planting application, which is available from the Parks Department or the Parks Department website and send to the address on the application. Your site will be inspected by an authority from the Parks Department to assess if there is available space for the planting of a tree. We ensure that there are no utility conflicts that directly translate to increased safety and reduced maintenance costs.

Can I decide what tree to have planted in front of my property?

All trees planted in the City are selected from the City of Frederick’s Recommended Street Tree list. In most cases the owner has the option to choose between two or three species, but due to many long-term neighborhood and community infrastructure issues, final decisions are up to the Parks Department.

Who pays for this tree?

The cost of an original tree on a given site is the responsibility of the property owner. After the one-year warranty period has ended, general maintenance and / or hazard removal shall be the responsibility of the City of Frederick.

As spring comes, am I allowed to mulch and / or plant flowers around the street tree in front of my residence?

Yes, you are allowed to mulch and plant around the street tree. For the health of the tree, according to current arboricultural standard practices, no more than two to three inches of mulch should be applied and to stay a minimum of six inches away from the tree trunk collar. The excess soil and mulch will cause the bark to rot enabling stress to the tree; this will expedite the decline.

Permanent borders or built-up planters around trees are not allowed. They are a trip hazard and cause undesirable root growth.

Who is responsible for the pruning of the street trees?

The City of Frederick is responsible for pruning all street trees.

The City of Frederick employs an Arborist who is a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert and International Society of Arboriculture certified. Additionally, the City employs other staffs that are Maryland Certified Roadside Tree Care Experts in our maintenance crews. Our arboricultural staff routinely visits each right-of-way tree and provides appropriate maintenance using a tree inventory system, which we utilize to assist maintenance scheduling on a 5- to 7-year cycle. A majority of the trees have an identification number associated with them to help us track their growth, health, pruning, removal, and replacement.

Note: Residents as well as professional arboricultural companies are not allowed to prune any city-owned tree without the authority of the City of Frederick.

I believe that my street tree is dead. How should I have this tree removed?

You should contact the City of Frederick Arborist in the Parks Department at (301) 600-1233 and state your concern. Once the Parks Department has been notified, the tree will be evaluated. Based on the evaluation, proper steps will be taken by the Parks Department to remove the tree if necessary.

If you have any other questions about right-of-way trees, please contact the City of Frederick Arborist at (301) 600-1233.

11/18/2005