Overhanging trees, bushes and hedges

Find out what to do about trees, bushes and hedges that are causing an obstruction to the road or highway.

What we do about overhanging trees, bushes and hedges

Residents and landowners are responsible for maintaining trees, shrubs and hedges within their own property/land next to the public highway. They are required to make sure that these do not: 

  • overhang the pavement/road so as to obstruct pedestrians or vehicles
  • pose an unreasonable health and safety risk to pedestrians or vehicles
  • block traffic signals or road signs
  • block drivers' sightlines  

If you see any trees, bushes or hedges on private property that are causing any of these issues, you should report this to us like any other highway obstruction.

Report an obstruction from an overhanging tree, bush or hedge

Obstructions from street trees

A street tree is one that is growing from a pavement or a grass verge. 

The Council’s Arboriculture Service within Cityparks are responsible for maintaining street trees.

If one of these trees is causing an obstruction, you need to report it to them, rather than us.

Report an obstruction from a street tree to Cityparks 

Our process for getting overhanging trees, shrubs or hedges cut back

This process applies only to overhanging trees, shrubs or hedges coming from residential gardens or from other private land next to the public highway.

  1. A council officer will attend, make an assessment and take photographs
  2. If the officer thinks that the vegetation is causing an obstruction or hazard, they will write to the resident, property owner or landowner asking them to get it cut it back within 28 days.
  3. An officer will carry out a second visit after 28 days to check the vegetation. If it has not been cut back or is still causing an obstruction or hazard a formal notice will be issued to the resident, property owner or landowner giving them a further 28 days to get it cut it back.
  4. If the vegetation is still not cut back, we’ll send a request to the Council’s Arboriculture Team asking them to visit and cut it back. The timescale for this visit is dependent on their existing work schedule and available capacity. If the Arboriculture Team are unable to visit, we may begin arrangements for an approved contractor to visit and cut it back. This is dependent on available budget.
  5. The cost for any work carried out by the Council’s Arboriculture Team or an approved contractor and paid for by the Council, will be charged back to the resident, property owner or landowner.

Please note that this process can take up to 3 months.