Vegetation Management

Trees and Shrubs

Larimer County Maintenance Trimming

Colorado state statute and Larimer County Code dictate the ordinances and resolutions that the Road and Bridge Department comply with. 

Sec. 30-101. - Road clearance.

The county shall insure that any tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation shall be trimmed in such a manner as to prevent branch and/or foliage interference with safe public passage on county rights-of-way and other county-owned or administered lands. The county shall insure that over-street clearance shall be kept to a minimum of 15 feet above the surface of the street or road and eight feet above the surface of the public sidewalk or pedestrian way.

(RG82-35g, § 1, 3-9-1982)

Sec. 30-102. - Sight obstruction.

The county shall insure that any tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation of which the county has actual notice which interferes with the visibility of any traffic control device or sign on or along county rights-of-way, or visibility at any county right-of-way intersection and as such constitutes a threat to safe public passage in the opinion of the county engineer, road and bridge supervisor, and/or county forester, shall be pruned, cut or removed as necessary for proper visibility.

(RG82-35g, § 2, 3-9-1982)

Sec. 30-103. - Placement of warning devices.

Upon actual notice of any vegetation which, in the opinion of the county engineer, road and bridge supervisor, and/or county forester, constitutes a threat to safe public passage on or along a county right-of-way, the county shall place such warning signs and/or devices as deemed necessary by the county engineer, road and bridge supervisor and/or county forester until such time as the hazard can be mitigated.

(RG82-35g, § 3, 3-9-1982)

Sec. 30-104. - Notification of violation.

Upon actual notice of any vegetation which, in the opinion of the county engineer, road and bridge supervisor, and/or county forester, constitutes a threat to safe public passage on or along a county right-of-way and which in part or whole originated or is growing or is located on or above land outside the county right-of-way, the county forester shall at once cause written notice to be served upon the owner of the said land, which notice shall require such property owner to remove or otherwise control such condition as per the recommendation of the county within a reasonable time to be specified in such notice.

(RG82-35g, § 4, 3-9-1982)

Sec. 30-105. - Noncompliance.

If any work required under section 30-104 of this division is not accomplished within the time specified in the notice, the county forester shall cause the work to be done. Any notice given pursuant to this division shall state that if the work required is not done within the time specified, the county shall cause the work to be done without any further notice.

(RG82-35g, § 5, 3-9-1982)

Sec. 30-106. - Emergency trimming.

Other provisions herein notwithstanding, the county reserves the right at all times to do emergency trimming, removing, or otherwise treating of any such trees or other plant growth which, in the opinion of the county engineer, road and bridge supervisor, and/or county forester, constitute an immediate and serious threat to the public safety.

(RG82-35g, § 6, 3-9-1982)

Trees on Private property

If a tree, shrub or other vegetation is not in the Larimer County ROW, the owner of the property will be notified if a problem arises. If a tree falls from private property into Larimer County ROW, it will be moved back on the property it came from.  It is the responsibility of land owners to take care of vegetation issues caused from their property.

Larimer County Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation Policy

Seasonally, roadside mowing is completed to manage vegetation growth alongside roadways. Vegetation is mowed approximately 6 feet off the edge of the roadway or as necessary to mitigate site distance issues, possible snow drifting issues in winter and fire hazard. The entire right-of-way will not be mowed.

This program is typically completed between June and the end of October.

Property owners may mow the remaining right-of-way in front of their property, however, it is the property owner's responsibility to ensure that  this activity does not cause a hazard to the traveling public (i.e. blocking traffic, throwing rock from mower, etc.).

From the Arbor Day Foundation website:

"Originally from Asia, the emerald ash borer (EAB) was first discovered in the Detroit area in 2002. It is believed to have entered the country on wooden packing materials from China. The bright metallic-green beetle may be smaller than a dime, but it is capable of taking down ash trees thousands of times its size. Adults are typically ½ inch long and ⅛ inch wide. Eggs are extremely small—approximately 1/25 inch—and are reddish-brown in color. Larvae are white, flat-headed borers with distinct segmentation.

Adults usually emerge in mid- to late-May from infestations to the trees during the previous year (earlier if the weather is warm), with females laying their eggs shortly after. The larvae bore into the ash tree and feed under the bark, leaving tracks visible underneath. The feeding disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, resulting in dieback and bark splitting."

Larimer County is currently home to an estimated 67,000 ash trees (this includes trees inside city limits). All ash trees that were located in Larimer County right-of-way have been removed as a proactive control measure. An ash tree can host an Emerald Ash Borer beetle for up to four years before the tree shows signs of infestation.

Larimer County Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation Policy

Larimer County contracts with the Larimer County Natural Resources - Weed Department for noxious weed control outside the boundary of the Weed District, shown below:

For noxious weed control concerns within the above weed district, citizens can contact the Larimer County Weed District. For noxious weed control concerns along roadsides outside the boundaries of the Larimer County Weed District, contact the Larimer County Road and Bridge at (970) 498-5650.

The weed management of county maintained rights-of-way is the responsibility of the Larimer County and mandated by the Colorado Noxious Weed Act. Property owners requesting no spray are responsible for noxious weed management within that zone. Failure to comply will result in Larimer County resuming spraying operations. The posting requirements listed below must be met if the County is to honor a request to refrain from treating an area with herbicides.

Signs must be posted immediately adjacent to the rights-of-way but not on the rights-of-way.

Signs must be posted at each end of the property; spraying operations will end at the point where the first sign is posted and begin at the point where the second sign is posted.

Signs must be clearly visible to approaching traffic from the road; they must be at least 36 inches above the ground and not obstructed from view.

Signs and the lettering on them must be large enough to be easily read from 20 yards distance.

Requests need to be submitted annually.

To request County Road No Spray areas, please call us at (970) 498-5768, or submit your request using the link below. You will need to create an account in the online portal first before submitting your request.

Submit a Do Not Spray Request