§ 54-149. Prohibited activities.

A. 

It shall be a violation of the provisions of this division for any person to abuse, mutilate, or destroy any tree on public property or to attach any wire, rope (except for supporting a broken tree or young sapling), sign, poster, and vending machine, or allow any gaseous, liquid, or solid substance which is harmful to such trees to come in contact with their roots, trunks, or leaves. In addition, no person and/or public agency shall cause or allow any wire charged with electricity to be placed or attached to any tree without first obtaining permission from the Board of Park Commissioners in conjunction with the Urban Tree Commission and the Tree Warden.

B. 

No person shall excavate any ditches, tunnels, or trenches or place any building material, excess dirt, or other debris within the dripline of any public tree without first obtaining a permit from the Board of Park Commissioners in conjunction with the Urban Tree Commission and the Tree Warden.

C. 

No person shall place, store, or maintain upon any public place any stone, brick, sand, dirt, concrete or any other materials or chemicals which may impede the passage of water, air, and nutrients to the roots of any public tree, except by valid permission of the Board of Park Commissioners in conjunction with the Urban Tree Commission and the Tree Warden.

D. 

Tree topping to reduce either the height or width of public trees shall be a prohibited activity in violation of this division. Such replacement shall meet the standards of size, species and placement as provided for in the permit issued by the Board of Park Commissioners in conjunction with the Urban Tree Commission and the Tree Warden. The person, business, public agency or property owner should bear the cost of removal and replacement of all trees removed.