Greeley tree permits and contractor licensing

The tree in front of your house may not be yours

This catches people out constantly. The strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street — the parkway — is public right of way, and trees planted there are managed by the City of Greeley's forestry program, not by the adjacent homeowner.

That means removal or major pruning of a parkway tree needs City approval first, and planting anything there requires written permission. Trees on your own property, behind the sidewalk line, are yours to manage.

If you are unsure which side of the line your tree sits on, ask before you hire anyone. Greeley 311 can point you to the right department.

Contractors must be licensed

Greeley is stricter than most Colorado cities on this, and it is worth knowing as a homeowner.

Any company or individual offering tree trimming or removal in Greeley on woody plants over 10 feet in height must hold a City of Greeley tree service license. The City maintains a public list of licensed contractors, so you can check before hiring.

Working in public space — the parkway, parks, any City property — requires an additional Public Space Arborist endorsement on top of the base license.

Power lines are a separate matter

Very few tree services are authorised to work within 10 feet of energised power lines. If branches are contacting or close to a line, that is utility line clearance work and it goes to Xcel Energy, not to a tree service. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise, and do not attempt it yourself.

What to ask before hiring anyone

1. Your City of Greeley tree service license number. Then check it against the City's list.
2. A certificate of insurance showing general liability and workers' compensation, sent directly from the insurer rather than handed to you as a photocopy.
3. Whether the quote includes cleanup and hauling. This is where suspiciously low prices usually come from.
4. A written scope, not a verbal agreement about what is coming out.
5. Who is doing the work. Whether the crew on the day is the licensed company or a subcontractor.

Emerald ash borer quarantine

Weld County is inside Colorado's emerald ash borer quarantine area, which restricts movement of ash material out of the zone. In practice: do not take ash firewood to a campsite, a cabin, or a relative outside the area. Moving infested firewood is how this beetle has crossed a continent. See emerald ash borer.

Pesticide application

Anyone applying pesticide commercially in Colorado — including treatments for emerald ash borer or iron chlorosis — needs a state applicator license. Ask to see it before anyone treats anything on your property.

Questions we get about this

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my own yard?

Generally no, for trees on private property behind the sidewalk line. Trees in the public right of way, including the parkway strip between sidewalk and street, are managed by the City and need approval before removal or major pruning.

Is the tree between the sidewalk and the street mine?

Usually not. That strip is public right of way and the trees in it come under Greeley's forestry program even though you mow the grass around them.

Do tree services have to be licensed in Greeley?

Yes. Any company or individual offering tree trimming or removal on woody plants over 10 feet in height must hold a City of Greeley tree service license, and the City publishes a list of licensed contractors.

What is a Public Space Arborist endorsement?

An additional endorsement on top of the base City license, required to work on trees in public space such as parkways, parks and City property.

Can a tree service work near my power line?

Only outside 10 feet of an energised line. Very few are authorised closer than that. Branches contacting a line are Xcel Energy's job, not a tree service's.

Can I take ash firewood to my cabin?

No. Weld County is inside Colorado's emerald ash borer quarantine and ash material cannot be moved out of the area. Transporting firewood is the main way EAB spreads long distances.