As summer arrives and plants enter their fastest growing season, Bedford residents may want to take a look beyond their lawns and pay attention to trees, bushes, and shrubs near sidewalks and streets.
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that Bedford’s ordinances place responsibility on property owners to maintain vegetation that overhangs public sidewalks and roadways. Trees, plants, and shrubs that extend into public spaces can create safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and even neighboring properties.
Under Bedford ordinances, property owners are required to maintain a clear height of nine feet between the lowest branches and any public sidewalk or street. This helps ensure that people walking, pushing strollers, using mobility devices, or riding bicycles can safely travel without obstruction.
The City also requires property owners to trim or remove dead, decayed, or broken branches that could fall onto a sidewalk, street, or adjacent property. In addition, vegetation that blocks visibility at intersections or creates other safety hazards may need to be removed or trimmed.
June is an ideal time to inspect your property. Walk along your sidewalk and look for branches hanging low over walkways, shrubs extending into pedestrian areas, or trees showing signs of dead or damaged limbs. A little preventive maintenance now can help avoid problems later in the summer when growth is at its peak.
Keeping trees and shrubs properly maintained not only helps residents stay in compliance with city regulations, but also contributes to a safer and more welcoming community for everyone who lives, works, and visits Bedford.
For more information, residents can review Bedford’s codified ordinances or contact the City of Bedford with questions regarding property maintenance requirements.
