TREE SERVICE

Colorado Springs City Code ch. 2, art. 3, pt. 3

in effect

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.301 DEFINITIONS

2.3.301: DEFINITIONS: CITY FORESTER: The professional forester appointed by the Manager to manage the urban forest and supervise the City's professional forestry and arboricultural staff, or the City Forester's designated representative. EQUIPMENT: Any vehicle, tool or machine used by a licensee to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees, including, but not limited to, chippers, chain saws, ropes, gear rigging and trucks. LICENSED REPRESENTATIVE: The owner or managing agent designated by the applicant or licensee who has successfully passed a pruning competency test administered by the City Forester. LINE CLEARANCE LICENSE: A license which permits the licensee to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees under or adjacent to electric utility lines pursuant to a line clearing contract with Colorado Springs Utilities. MANAGER: The person, appointed by and reporting directly to the Mayor, charged with administrative responsibility for parks, recreation and cultural services, or the Manager's designated representative. TREE: Any woody plant which is fifteen feet (15') or higher including conifers. TREE SERVICE BUSINESS LICENSE: A license which permits a person or business to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees for hire. (1968 Code §5-64C; Ord. 75-164; Ord. 95-42; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 14-89)

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.302 LICENSE REQUIRED; FEES; TERM

2.3.302: LICENSE REQUIRED; FEES; TERM: A. It shall be unlawful for any person either directly or indirectly through an agent or employee, to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees under or adjacent to electric utility lines pursuant to a contract with Colorado Springs Utilities without a line clearance license. B. It shall be unlawful for any person, either directly or indirectly through an agent or employee, to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees for hire or agree to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees for hire within the City without first obtaining a tree service business license. A tree service business license shall not be required for any preconstruction removal of trees more than two hundred feet (200') from the nearest structure. C. A person shall be presumed to be working for hire if that person utilizes a vehicle or equipment which displays information related to cutting, training, pruning, shaping or removing trees while engaged in those activities. D. For every tree service business license issued pursuant to this part: 1. Fees shall be as established by City Council under article 1, part 5 of this chapter; and 2. Every license shall expire one year from the date of issuance, unless suspended or revoked earlier. (1968 Code §5-64A, G; Ord. 75-164; Ord. 94-98; Ord. 95-42; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 14-89)

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.303 CLASSES OF LICENSES

2.3.303: CLASSES OF LICENSES: A. General: A general tree service business license shall authorize the licensee to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees for hire from or above the ground through climbing, use of an aerial lift, or a ladder exceeding the height of twelve feet (12'). B. Limited: A limited tree service business license shall authorize the licensee to cut, train, prune, shape or remove trees for hire from the ground only except by use of a ladder not exceeding the height of twelve feet (12'). (Ord. 14-89)

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.304 EXAMINATION BY CITY FORESTER

2.3.304: EXAMINATION BY CITY FORESTER: A. Legislative Declaration: Colorado Springs is proud of its arboricultural heritage and annual Tree City-USA designation. City Council hereby finds that the general health, safety and welfare of the citizens and the urban forest is dependent upon the professional skill and knowledge of tree service business and line clearance licensees. As a matter of public policy, it is imperative that every licensee employ a licensed representative whose competency be tested or deemed acceptable by the City Forester. B. Examination: The Deputy Licensing Officer shall forward each application for a tree service license to the City Forester for examination. A license examination packet shall be made available to each applicant. The City Forester shall examine the licensed representative either orally or in writing, or both, covering the licensed representative's qualifications and competence to exercise the privileges of the license. The City Forester shall also require a demonstration of actual practical ability and competence. C. Waiver: The City Forester may waive any or all of the examination requirements upon the applicant's submission of documentation verifying that the licensed representative is a certified arborist or tree worker of the International Society Of Arboriculture or any successor organization. (1968 Code §5-64F; Ord. 75-164; Ord. 88-266; Ord. 95-42; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 14-89)

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.305 INSURANCE REQUIRED

2.3.305: INSURANCE REQUIRED: A. No tree service license application shall be accepted nor examination conducted until the applicant provides a certificate of insurance showing commercial general liability coverage in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) or more combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage. Coverage shall include blanket contractual, broad form property damage, products and completed operations endorsements. Coverage shall be required in the name of the licensee. B. No license shall be issued until the applicant provides a certificate of workers' compensation and employers' liability insurance as required by statute. Employers' liability coverage is to be carried for a minimum limit of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). C. Each insurance policy required shall not be reduced, suspended, voided or canceled except after prior written notice has been given to the City. Such notice shall be sent directly to the Deputy Licensing Officer, City Clerk's Office, 30 S. Nevada Avenue, Suite 101, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. If any insurance company refuses to provide the required notice, the licensee or its insurance broker shall notify the City of any reduction, suspension, voiding, cancellation, or nonrenewal of any insurance upon receipt of an insurer's notification to that effect. The suspension, voiding, nonrenewal, cancellation or reduction of insurance shall be cause for automatic suspension of the license until coverage is reinstated. All policies shall be kept in force and effect for the term of the license. D. The licensee shall be responsible for any and all damage to property or injury to persons arising out of the exercise of the license. The licensee shall indemnify and save harmless the City and all of its officers, agents and employees from all suits, actions or claims of injuries received or sustained by any person or property due to the exercise of the license or of any act or omission of the licensee, the licensee's agents or employees due to the licensee's failure to comply with the provisions of this General Licensing Code. (1968 Code §5-64I; Ord. 75-164; Ord. 76-151; Ord. 95-42; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 14-89)

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.306 INFORMATION ON VEHICLES

2.3.306: INFORMATION ON VEHICLES: All trucks or other vehicles operated by any licensee to transport equipment used by the licensee in the business, excluding towed vehicles, shall have the name and local telephone number of the licensee displayed on both sides in plain and legible letters and numbers not less than three inches (3") in height. This information shall be so as to be readily distinguished and read at a distance of at least sixty feet (60'). It shall be unlawful and it shall be grounds for revocation of the license for a licensee to operate any vehicle or cause any equipment to be operated upon the public ways within the City unless the name and local telephone number is displayed. (1968 Code §5-64K; Ord. 75-164; Ord. 95-42; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 14-89)

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.307 RULES AND REGULATIONS

2.3.307: RULES AND REGULATIONS: A. With the advice of the Manager and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the City Forester may promulgate reasonable rules and regulations governing the conduct of line clearance and tree service business licensees to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens, licensees, urban forest and public and private property. B. Any violation of this General Licensing Code or the forestry rules and regulations may result in the initiation of suspension or revocation proceedings in accord with section 2.1.801 et seq., of this chapter. Upon the verified written complaint filed by any person, alleging any violation of this part, the City Forester may request the Deputy Licensing Officer to initiate suspension or revocation proceedings. (1968 Code §5-64J, L; Ord. 75-164; Ord. 88-266; Ord. 95-42; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 14-89)

Colorado Springs City Code § 2.3.308 PENALTIES

2.3.308: PENALTIES: A. First Conviction: Upon first conviction of a violation of any provision of this part, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), nor less than one hundred dollars ($100.00). B. Second Conviction: Upon a second conviction of a violation of any provision of this part, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), nor less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), or imprisonment in jail for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, or both. C. Third And Subsequent Convictions: Upon a third or subsequent conviction of a violation of any provision of this part, the penalty shall be a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), nor less than three hundred fifty dollars ($350.00) or imprisonment in jail for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, or both. D. Confiscation; Forfeiture: 1. Any equipment defined by this part which is used by the licensee shall be confiscated by a police officer when, on service of a citation for a current violation of this General Licensing Code, the officer has knowledge or information that the licensee suspected of the current violation has two (2) previous convictions for violating this General Licensing Code. 2. Any equipment defined by this part which is used by the licensee during the violation of any provision of this General Licensing Code shall be forfeited to the City upon conviction in the Municipal Court of a third or subsequent violation. 3. Upon defendant's written motion, after hearing and in the exercise of its discretion, the Municipal Court may direct that the equipment not be forfeited and order its return. (Ord. 95-42; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 14-89)

Source: City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/coloradospringsco/latest/coloradosprings_co/0-0-0-2197Fetched: 11/1/2026