Tree Maintenance
Memorial Tree Brochure (PDF)
Tree/Boulevard Work Permit (PDF)
GUIDELINES FOR INQUIRIES RELATING TO TREES
Nature/location of complaint/concern: | Refer To: | Phone #: |
Tree emergency—fallen tree or branch blocking street or sidewalk | HPD for immediate response to secure area. HPD will call HP&R for removal | 911 |
Witnessing malicious tree damage or removal | Call HPD while in progress. HPD will call HP&R | 911 |
Street tree trimming/planting/removal | call HP&R | 406-447-8463 |
Tree donations | call HP&R | 406-447-8463 |
Parks maintenance | call HP&R | 406-447-8463 |
Tree located on private property protruding into street or sidewalk | call HP&R | 406-447-8463 |
Tree located on private property protruding into other private property | Civil matter, not city’s jurisdiction |
|
Sidewalk uplift | call city engineer | 406-447-1565 |
Tree interfering with high voltage line | call Northwestern Energy | 1-888-467-2353 |
It is the city’s goal to preserve as many trees as possible. To this end, trees will not be removed unless dead, dying, diseased, or damaged, as determined by city tree maintenance staff. It is natural for trees to drop their leaves, flowers, or seeds due to winds and seasonal cycles. By city ordinance, property owners are responsible for keeping the public areas adjacent to their properties free of debris and litter. Street trees are the property of the city of Helena. Destroying them is against the law.
TREE TRIMMING
Helena’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Open Lands, Tree Maintenance Division, is responsible for the trimming of approximately 8000 trees located in the city’s street rights of way, public parks, and other city-owned properties.
HOW CAN I GET MY TREES TRIMMED?
First of all, the city trims only the trees within street rights of way. City crews will not enter private property to trim trees.
To trim the most trees in a year, the city selects the streets where the trees need the most trimming. After notifying homeowners, the tree maintenance crew will trim the trees from one end of the street to the other Monday through Thursday until all the trees are trimmed.
If you have a street tree in front of your home that has hanging or broken branches, you may call 406-447-8463 to request the city to look at the trees. If the tree poses an immediate danger to homes, pedestrians, or vehicles, city crews will trim or remove it immediately. Otherwise, the crew may determine the tree can wait for regular trimming or take care of it on a Friday.
WILL THE CITY REMOVE A STUMP FROM THE BOULEVARD?
Yes, stumps are ground down below ground level in the winter. Call 406-447-8463.
WHO SPRAYS FOR CATERPILLARS AND INSECTS IN BOULEVARD TREES?
The city crews will not spray for insects, etc. Contact a private contractor for this work.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET A TREE PLANTED IN THE BOULEVARD IN FRONT OF MY HOME? (The permit goes somewhere in here?)
Call the Parks and Recreation office, 406-447-8463 to obtain a Tree/Boulevard Work Permit. The city will review your request.
Once your permit is approved, you may provide and plant the tree yourself. You may also apply for assistance with the cost of the tree from the city or from the Growing Friends of Helena organization. Assistance is available as funds permit.
For more information on planting street trees, go to the City Code section of this website to Title 7, Section 10-Trees.