TREES

Kansas City Code ch. 64, art. XI

in effect

Kansas City Code § 64-411 Duties of commissioner of streets.

Sec. 64-411. - Duties of commissioner of streets. (a) Enumerated. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of streets to see that all laws and ordinances for the planting and protection of trees shall be strictly enforced; to direct the time and method of trimming all trees in the streets of the city, except in the boulevards and other grounds under the control of the board of parks and recreation commissioners; to advise the city council and property owners regarding the kinds of trees and method of planting deemed desirable on particular streets; to remove from the sidewalks or streets any trees or parts thereof left there as a result of any windstorm or otherwise; to remove any tree or branch if overhanging any street or public place and likely to fall and injure any person, and require landowners or the tenants or persons in possession to remove any dead trees from any property owned or occupied by any such owner, tenant or other person; and to report to the director of public works whatever trees have died, which have been planted under the provisions of the city ordinances, in order that the director may cause such trees to be replaced. He may employ assistants who have had practical experience in the planting and care of trees. (b) Contracts with parks and recreation department. The commissioner of streets may contract with the parks and recreation department to carry out the responsibilities listed in subsection (a) of this section. The parks and recreation department shall be reimbursed quarterly for work done by it after submission of a statement of work accomplished, and costs, to the commissioner of streets. This statement shall contain figures as to the number of trees on streets that are planted, removed, trimmed and sprayed; manhours spent on storm cleanup, tree surgery and grubbing; and detailed overhead costs; and shall give detailed estimates as to the cost of the programs set forth in this subsection. This statement shall be submitted to the commissioner of streets not later than ten days after the end of each quarter, and the parks and recreation department shall be reimbursed for its expenses after the receipt of the statement. In no case shall the reimbursement to the parks and recreation department exceed the current appropriation for the tree service contract. (c) Restriction. The duties of the commissioner shall not apply to the spraying, treatment, trimming or removal of diseased trees in tree protection districts provided for in section 287.1 of the Charter. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.160)

Kansas City Code § 64-412 Permit for planting or setting trees—Required.

Sec. 64-412. - Permit for planting or setting trees—Required. It shall be unlawful for any contractor or other person to excavate any opening, hole or pit in any street of the city for the purpose of planting or setting a tree therein without a written permit from the commissioner of streets so to do. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.161)

Kansas City Code § 64-413 Same—Application; issuance; acceptance of planting.

Sec. 64-413. - Same—Application; issuance; acceptance of planting. Whenever any property owner desires to plant or set trees along the sidewalk space on any street in the city, such planting and setting to conform to the general specifications for planting and setting trees approved by the director of public works and on file in his office and in the office of the commissioner of streets, he shall apply to the commissioner of streets for a permit so to do, and the commissioner may thereupon issue to him a permit to plant or set such trees, stating the species and kind of trees to be planted or set, and the location thereof. Upon completion of such planting or setting in accordance with such specifications, it shall be the duty of the commissioner of streets to issue to the property owner a written acceptance thereof. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.162)

Kansas City Code § 64-414 Same—Restriction on issuance.

Sec. 64-414. - Same—Restriction on issuance. The commissioner of streets shall issue no permit as provided for in section 64-413 to any property owner or other person for the planting or setting of trees within the limits defined by any ordinance of the city council providing for the planting of trees upon such street, which has become a law before the time such property owner or other person desires to secure such permit, and under which ordinance advertisement has been made for bids for such planting. In all such cases, the contractor to whom the work of planting or setting trees has been awarded by the city, under such ordinance, shall plant or set the trees the entire length as defined in the ordinance, providing he shall have a written permit from the commissioner of streets to proceed with the work of planting or replanting in compliance with the terms of his contract. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.163)

Kansas City Code § 64-415 Trimming.

Sec. 64-415. - Trimming. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to trim any trees standing in the streets of the city, except upon boulevards and other streets under control of the board of parks and recreation commissioners, except under the direction of the commissioner of streets, and the commissioner is hereby authorized to grant written permits for the trimming of trees and to give such directions regarding such trimming as he deems proper. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to trim any trees standing in the streets, boulevards, parks or parkways of the city under the control of the board of parks and recreation commissioners, except under the authority of the board. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.164)

Kansas City Code § 64-416 Clearance of limbs over street or sidewalk.

Sec. 64-416. - Clearance of limbs over street or sidewalk. Every owner or occupant of any house, building, lot or premises shall keep the shade and ornamental trees in the street or sidewalk area in front and along side of such house, building, lot or premises trimmed so that the branches thereof shall be not lower than 7½ feet from the surface of such street or sidewalk. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.165)

Kansas City Code § 64-417 Unsafe trees or branches.

Sec. 64-417. - Unsafe trees or branches. (a) Prohibited. No person, either as owner or tenant of real estate on which there are trees, shall permit any tree or branch thereof situated on such real estate to overhang a public street or adjoining property where such tree or branch so overhanging is liable to fall and do injury to the traveling public or adjoining property by reason of its insecure and unsafe condition, whether occasioned by decay or any other cause, and the maintenance of such unsafe tree or branch is declared to be a nuisance. (b) Removal by city. In case the owner or tenant shall fail to remove such unsafe tree or branch, as described in this section, which threatens injury to the public or adjoining property, the commissioner of streets is hereby authorized and empowered to enter upon private property to remove the unsafe tree or branch at the expense of the owner, which expense may be recovered by the city in any court of competent jurisdiction in the county. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.166)

Kansas City Code § 64-418 Trees or branches with Dutch elm disease.

Sec. 64-418. - Trees or branches with Dutch elm disease. No person shall sell, buy, give away, keep or permit to be kept any elm tree or branch which has been cut because of being afflicted with Dutch elm disease. (Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 30.167)

Source: City of Kansas City, Missouri, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Zoning and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/kansas_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORKAMIVOII_CH64STSIPUPL_ARTXITRFetched: 10/28/2026