Parks & Cemeteries, Street and Alley Rights-of-Way,
and other City Properties

In a perfect world, city crews would prune each tree on public land (including rights-of-way) every year, removing dead and damaged branches, sprouts, and other parts that might eventually cause problems. However, the City has only two contract crews to provide all the preventive tree work in the 180+ square miles within the city limits, plus action on tree-care service requests. We rely heavily on the public to report tree problems. This is easily done by calling the Forestry/Horticulture Section (256-883-3707), or by submitting a problem report to the city forester, stating the location and nature of the problem; be sure to include your name and telephone number, in case we need help in finding the problem.

The 1975 Ala. Code (sections 35-2-50 and 35-2-51) says that a municipality owns outright property that has been dedicated to it in accordance with applicable statutes. Under those statutes, the acknowledgment and recording of a plat or map of a subdivision conveys to the municipality whatever land is marked or noted as donated or granted to the public.

Please note: A "right-of-way" is not the same thing as an "easement," and the tree policies are entirely different. For more on easement trees, click here.

Property owners have some obligations toward upkeep of adjoining rights-of-way, and we consider that they deserve some say in what happens to the trees there. Still, the City must have the last voice in managing them, especially where public safety is concerned.

City maintenance of trees in parks, cemeteries, and rights-of-way, and on the grounds of public buildings, falls into several categories:

PRUNING...

to remove hazards -- branches that are dead, cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged.

for visibility at intersections.

for visibility around signs and traffic signals.

for street clearance (normally 14' above the pavement).

for sidewalk clearance (normally 8' above the sidewalk)

REMOVAL of dead, damaged, or otherwise unserviceable trees on the right-of-way.

NOTIFICATION of adjoining property owners concerning tree hazards on private property in locations where they pose a hazard to the public.