Cookeville tree rules, in plain terms

Cookeville's rules for trees live in Section 13-107 of the municipal code, last amended in July 2024. Here's what it, the city's own pages and the state say, in plain terms. This is a summary, not legal advice; ask the city if your case isn't clear.

Whose tree is it?

Cookeville's FAQ: trees within parks, on city-owned property and in rights-of-way are the city's responsibility, and trees on private property are the owner's. If it's unclear who is responsible for a tree posing a hazard, contact the city urban forester through Public Works at (931) 520-5249. The ordinance defines a public tree as one growing on land owned by the City of Cookeville or on public right-of-way.

Removing a tree on your own lot

The ordinance says the city encourages saving trees during development, but private owners may remove trees on their own land as long as the removal doesn't conflict with Section 14-208 of the Cookeville Zoning Code. The city's Urban Forestry page also links a commercial landscape zoning document titled "208 Landscaping and Screening Requirements." We found no separate homeowner removal permit in the tree ordinance; if your property is commercial or under a site plan, ask the city before cutting.

What the ordinance says about care

• Topping: prohibited on public trees except as the first stage of removal; strongly discouraged on private trees.
• Utility pruning: utilities follow ANSI A300 pruning standards where applicable.
• Planting near lines: small tree species can't be planted within 8 feet of an imaginary line between utility poles, and street trees stay at least 10 feet from hydrants, utility poles and street lights.
• Ground level: when the city removes a tree, zero to six inches above the soil counts as ground level.

When the city can act on a private tree

The city may remove, trim or prune trees on public or private property when needed for public safety. A tree that interferes with traffic signs, sidewalks, utility lines or the view at an intersection can be declared a public nuisance. Owners can appeal a removal recommendation to the Tree Board within fifteen days. City officials may also enter property to inspect a tree reasonably suspected of being a public hazard. During emergencies or natural disasters, the ordinance's requirements are waived to allow abatement work.

On branches over the street, a 2018 UC Now report on the ordinance quotes the public works director: the city usually asks owners to trim, and when they can't, the city trims only back to the right-of-way line.

The Tree Board

The board was created by the City Council on August 4, 1988 and has thirteen members, five appointed by the mayor with council approval and eight standing members from city departments, Tennessee Tech and the Tennessee Division of Forestry. It keeps a recommended tree list, runs the Arbor Day ceremony and meets at noon on the first Wednesday of the month at the Public Works facility, 1115 E Spring Street; check the city's Tree Board page for the current schedule.

Brush and burning

Free brush pickup is for residents doing their own trimming; contractor-cut debris isn't picked up. A Tennessee Division of Forestry burn permit is required October 15 through May 15 for woody debris and leaf piles, and local rules can be stricter. More on lot and brush clearing.

State rules that touch tree work

• Contractor license: required in Tennessee whenever a project's total cost is $25,000 or more; landscaping is listed among contracting work. The board's pages don't mention tree removal by name.
• Home improvement license: required for $3,000 to $24,999 jobs only in Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties; Putnam and White aren't listed.
• Tennessee 811: at least three full business days' notice before digging. See stump grinding.

Outside city limits

This page covers the City of Cookeville. For Algood, Baxter, Monterey, Sparta or unincorporated Putnam County, ask that city or the county; we didn't find their tree rules published in a form we could cite.