Stump Grinding & Removal in Montgomery County, MD

Tree problems in Montgomery County, MD that call for stump grinding

1. 1

   Maryland's Roadside Tree Law

   Maryland's Roadside Tree Law, dating to 1914, requires a Roadside Tree Permit from the DNR Forest Service before anyone plants, prunes or removes a tree growing wholly or partly in a public road right-of-way, whether a homeowner, a company, a town or a utility. Projects in Montgomery County need an additional county permit. Work on roadside trees has to be done by, or under the direction of, a Maryland Licensed Tree Expert.

2. 2

   Clearance standards for street trees

   County pruning removes dead wood, diseased branches and structural defects, trains young trees, and keeps clearance for traffic: generally 12 to 14 feet over the road and 8 feet over the sidewalk. If a county tree's limbs are blocking signs or sight lines, report it through 311.

3. 3

   Pepco and power lines

   Utilities, most often Pepco, trim trees to keep branches away from energized lines. That work isn't regulated by the county; questions go to the utility. Never let an ordinary tree crew work near energized lines, and report a tree on a line to the utility and 911.