Tree Trimming Specifications

Customer Requested Tree Trimming

  • All contractors and personnel hired by a property owner to perform tree trimming services shall be OSHA certified to trim properly and safely if working within 10 feet of a power line.
  • The City of Newark shall be contacted prior to any tree trimming or removal near power lines to ensure the safety of anyone working within 10 feet of a power line.
  • The city may charge a fee if damage to electrical facilities occurs and prior notification of tree trimming was not given.
  • Requests for tree trimming around high voltage primary or low voltage secondary lines between utility poles will be evaluated on the need for trimming. Brush and wood are left at the property and are the responsibility of the homeowner. Broken limbs entangled in a line will be removed and are also the responsibility of the homeowner.
  • Trees on private property that can be safely removed without fear of electrocution will remain the responsibility of the homeowner.
  • Trees on private property within 10 feet of high voltage power lines will either be trimmed, have line covering installed by city personnel, or the power line will be de-energized (if possible) to allow a private contractor to remove the tree safely without fear of electrocution. Brush and wood are left at the property and are the responsibility of the homeowner. The city may charge a fee for de-energizing or placing protective covering on lines depending on circumstances.
  • It is the responsibility of the homeowner to keep the service drop (the wires that run from the pole to the house) clear of trees. The city will lower and raise secondary service drops without charge during normal working hours to allow a contractor to trim or remove trees if they are in conflict with the service drop. Trees interfering with the service drop will not normally be trimmed by the city. However if trimming is performed, brush and wood are left at the property and are the responsibility of the homeowner. Broken limbs entangled in the line will be removed by city personnel and left for disposal by the homeowner.

Routine Trimming

During normal routine trimming the city's contract tree trimmer will remove and chip limbs and debris from the property owner's trees.

Emergency Trimming

When tree debris is caused by a storm, the City of Newark's electric crews do not remove it. The city's crews shall work quickly to restore power to all of our customers. City crews cut broken and uprooted trees to allow us to clear and make repairs to our lines. Brush and wood are left at the property and are the responsibility of the homeowner.