Frequently Asked Questions

What is a boulevard?
A boulevard is the area along the street between the sidewalk and the curb.

Who is responsible for maintenance of the boulevard?
The adjacent property owner is responsible for maintenance of the boulevard as well as all property between the curb and the street right-of-way line adjacent to the property.

What does this maintenance include?
Maintenance includes proper primary pruning of small trees, shrubs, mowing of lawns, weeding, litter removal, fertilizing, replacing plants when necessary, and regular watering of plants to keep them healthy.

What is the standard for landscaping within the boulevard?
Where there are public trees and grass boulevards, the areas shall match the appearance and character of the boulevards in the blocks immediately adjacent to the block of the owner as well as the prevailing character of the neighborhood.

In areas of new development where boulevard-type sidewalks have been installed, the boulevard must be developed and maintained as a grass strip with public trees as specified in Chapter 10 of this title.

What if I don’t want grass and trees within the boulevard?
The Director of Parks and Recreation may grant variances to the landscaping standards of this section. This is done by first submitting an application to the director, which must include an attached proposed landscape and maintenance plan. There is no fee for this request.

The landscape plan will consist of a scale drawing showing all alterations, modifications, and new development of the boulevard. Include the types of plant materials proposed, the size of the plants at planting, the size of the area being modified, and any other pertinent information relating to the plan.

The maintenance plan will state how the applicant intends to maintain landscaped areas as well as how watering, trimming, trash removal, and other necessary maintenance practices will be done.

Under what conditions will the variances be granted?
1. The proposed changes must match the appearance and character of the boulevards in the blocks immediately adjacent to the block of the owner as well as the prevailing character in the neighborhood.

2. The plant material must be of adequate number, size, and type to ensure that within three (3) years of the initial planting, sixty (60) percent of the growth area is covered by the plant material, which includes a tree’s trunk but not the drip line of the tree.

3. The plant material may consist of a combination of trees, shrubs, ground cover, and ornamental perennial flowers.

4. Trees must comply with the standards of City Code 7-10.

5. No shrub, ground cover, or flower may exceed thirty (30) inches in height.

6. Materials such as bark mulch, river rock, lava rock, boulders, and driftwood may be used providing they do not become the dominant feature of the landscaping and prevent the plant material from covering sixty (60) percent of the boulevard.

7. The landscaping may not create an unsafe condition to the public using the right of way. This may be due to creation of a sight obstruction or obstruction forcing a pedestrian out onto the street.

What if a tree within the boulevard is too large for me to trim? Do I have to hire someone?
No, the Helena Department of Parks and Recreation has a Tree Maintenance Division.  The department schedules trimming of street trees throughout the year. The schedule includes about four to five streets a year.

What if my trees are not on the schedule, and I have broken branches or a dead or dying tree?
Call 447-8463 Monday-Friday to have a work order completed. The Tree Maintenance Division responds to work orders in the order that they come in. For tree emergencies after hours, call 911.