Tree Ordinances often reference pruning standards for the proper care of trees. A community will insert these standards as tree care specifications within their landscape or tree ordinances, which must be complied with when planting, pruning and removing trees from development sites. Pruning is encouraged for cleaning out dead wood, thinning the canopy to allow more sunlight penetration and raising the bottom of the canopy to eliminate human contact. Standards may also be included for reducing the size of the canopy as well.

Recent standards known as ANSI Z133.1-2006 Tree Care Safety Standards were released for use by certified arborists. These 2006 revisions of the national safety standard for arboricultural operations will ensure that arborists follow all proper precautions to prevent causality while working, and should be referenced in all tree ordinances. The American National Standards Institute, with the help of the International Society of Arboriculture recently released the document cited here.

More information about pruning standards and tree ordinances can be found on the ISA web site https://www.isa-arbor.com/home.aspx

The Raleigh, North Carolina tree law set regulations that make property owners think twice before removing trees or hiring unqualified tree care experts. In recent months the city has assessed fines totaling over $77,000 for poor pruning practices, including a fine the city assessed against themselves for improper tree pruning to eleven trees along a public street. In this community where trees are highly valued, removing any branch over three inches in size or ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The three common procedures used to assess the value of illegally removed trees and appropriate fines are the ?EUR??,,????'?????<The Guide for Plant Appraisal, latest edition published by the International Society of Arboriculture. Portland, Oregon follows the first procedure where violators negotiate a plan to make amends. Boise, Idaho uses the later method based upon ISA calculations. Naperville, Illinois uses the replacement value method. This city will go onto private property to correct violations and replace the trees for the full cost of the work. They then place a lien on the property and expect immediate payment, which, if not cleared within sixty days, will be foreclosed according to the remedy contained within their zoning law. Mansfield, Texas will require that illegally removed trees be replaced on an inch-by-inch basis.

Compensatory payments as a form of mitigation for tree abuse are a very common remedy that seems to be gaining in popularity across the country.