Tree Maintenance

Milwaukie municipal code requires property owners to maintain trees in the right of way adjacent to their property. This includes street trees and vegetated right of ways.

Trees in the right-of-way must be pruned to 8ft clearance over sidewalks, traveled areas, and intersection corners, as well as 12ft clearance over streets.

Clear vision at intersections is required per code. Clear vision distances are determined by road and site conditions. Visit the Clear Vision and Areas webpage for more information.

Pruning is a vital part of long-term tree maintenance. It provides both structural and aesthetic benefits for trees and keeps roads and sidewalks safe. 

Benefits of regular tree maintenance:

• Faster healing with less disease
  • Pruning trees during their dormancy allows them to focus on healing from pruning with less disease risk
• Stronger branches
  • Pruning branches ahead of storms creates more resilient trees
• Controlled growth
  • Pruning allows for shaping of trees and the removal of dead branches.

View the resources attached at the bottom of this webpage for more information about tree maintenance 

Questions? Contact the Urban Forest Department at urbanforest@milwaukieoregon.gov or 503.786.7655