Vegetation Obstructions
Vegetation Blocking the Street or Sidewalk
Our sidewalks and streets are used by community members with varying abilities -- children on bicycles, senior citizens, persons in wheelchairs, joggers, and families out for a stroll. Trees and shrubs need to be properly trimmed to ensure the enjoyment and safety of those who use our community’s sidewalks and streets.
Walk Your Walk: If you see a problem, take action!
In Corvallis, property owners are responsible for maintaining trees, shrubs, and vegetation on their own property, as well as shrubs and vegetation (other than trees) in the public parking strip that abuts their property.
Take a few minutes to walk the sidewalk around your residence to check for:
- Overhanging branches
- Encroaching vegetation
- Debris of any kind on the sidewalk surface
Trees within or overhanging the public right-of-way must be trimmed to at least 8 feet above the sidewalk area and 12 feet above the street or alley. This EXCLUDES trees planted within the public right-of-way (i.e., parking strips). For public right-of-way tree trimming, please contact the Urban Forester at 541-754-1723 to inform them of any trimming needs. Shrubs and other vegetation must also be trimmed so they do not extend over the street or into the sidewalk. These are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner and do not require involvement from the Urban Forester.
Make sure that fire hydrants have at least 3 feet of clear space around them so fire fighters can find them, attach the hose, and open up the valve without delay.
To report vegetation blocking the sidewalk or bike lane, please use the Report a Problem online tool, email Corvallis Public Works, or call 541-766-6916.
Vegetation Inhibiting Visibility
Visibility is a major concern for the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. The Vision Clearance Area has been established to ensure those approaching an intersection can see each other clearly. Vision clearance includes the area behind the property line (right of way) on private property and the area on the street side of the property line (within the public right-of-way). Property [Vision clearance area at alleys and driveways] [The vision clearance area at a street intersection] owners are responsible for seeing that vision clearance areas are free of visual obstructions.
The vision clearance area at a street intersection is defined as a triangular area having a minimum of 25-foot legs along property lines of each street or highway intersection. This area shall not contain temporary or permanent obstructions to vision exceeding 24 inches in height. Tree trunks and vegetation (limbs) above the 8-foot height level are exempted from this requirement.
Vision clearance area at alleys and driveways is defined as the triangular area measured a minimum of 15-foot legs along each street, driveway, alley or highway. This area shall not contain vegetation in excess of 24 inches in height. Tree trunks and vegetation above the 8-foot height level is exempted from this requirement.
To report vegetation inhibiting visibility, please use the Report a Problem online tool, email Corvallis Public Works, or call 541-766-6916.
Before reporting, please be aware that the City is not staffed to evaluate large volumes of complaints such as entire streets and large neighborhoods, especially when the vegetation concerns do not pose an immediate hazard and may only encroach slightly into the sidewalk or bike lane. Please help us prioritize our limited resources by keeping this in mind when deciding what to report.
