§ 21-5. Cutting or destroying shade trees.

(a)

The removing, cutting, marring, defacing, or destroying of any shade tree, either by direct personal action or by causing any other person to take such action, within any public road or public right-of-way is prohibited unless prior written permission to remove, cut, mar, deface, or destroy such tree has been granted by the division of public works.

(b)

For purposes of this section, the term "shade tree" shall mean any tree within the following list:

Common Name	Scientific Name
Ash, Green	Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Blolly	Guapira discolor
Bottlebrush	Callistemon spp.
Camphor tree	Cinnamomum camphora
Cherry Laurel	Prunus caroliniana
Copperpod	Peltophorum pterocarpum
Elm, American	Ulmus americana
Elm, Chinese	Ulmus parvifolia
Golden Shower Tree	Koelreutaria elegans
Hickory, Pignut	Carya glabra
Hornbeam, American	Carpinus caroliniana
Indian Rosewood	Dalbergia sissoo
Jacaranda	Jacaranda mimosaefolia
Lancewood	Nectandra coriacea
Lynchee	Litchi chinensis
Macadamia Nut	Macadamia integrifolia
Magnolia, Southern	Magnolia grandiflora
Maple, Red	Acer rubrum
Oak, Bluejack	Quercus incana
Oak, Laurel	Quercus laurifolia
Oak, Live	Quercus virginiana
Oak, Myrtle	Quercus myrtifolia
Oak, Pin	Quercus palustris
Oak, Shumard Red	Quercus shumardii
Palm, Queen	Arecastrum romanzoffianum
Persimmon	Diospyros virginiana
Pine, Loblolly	Pinus taeda
Pine, Longleaf	Pinus palustris
Pine, Sand	Pinus clausa
Pine, Slash	Pinus elliottii
Red Bay	Persea borbonia
Redbud	Cercis canadensis
Silk-tree	Albizia julibrissin
Sugarberry	Celtis Laevigata
Sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua
Sycamore	Platanus occidentalis
Tabebuia, Golden	Tabebuia chrysotricha

 

(c)

The following acts are exempt from subsection (a):

(1)

Where the removing, cutting, marring, defacing, or destroying of any shade tree is done by or on behalf of the division of public works; or

(2)

Where normal trimming of a shade tree is required to ensure the safe operation of a utility facility and such tree trimming is performed by the utility company in accordance with the provisions of its utility accommodations guide; or

(3)

Where normal trimming of a shade tree is done by or on behalf of a single-family residential property owner in front of his residence.

(d)

The division of public works may enforce this section by reporting the offender to the state attorney. Each offender shall be punished as provided in section 1-9.

(Ord. No. 90-06, §§ 1—4, 4-9-90)