Tree rules in Hot Springs and Arkansas

Who has a say over a tree near Hot Springs depends on where it stands: a city street, a private lot, Hot Springs Village, unincorporated Garland County or the national park. State law then adds rules about wires, digging and pest treatment. Here is what each published.

City of Hot Springs

• Pruning in the right-of-way: Ordinance 4867 makes it illegal to prune trees in the city right-of-way without a permit.
• Topping: not allowed on right-of-way trees.
• Removal in the right-of-way: the Urban Forester must approve it.
• Which trees are the city's: the city's program guide says city-owned trees are those between the street and the sidewalk.
• When the city removes its own trees: when they're dead, have an untreatable disease, are structurally hazardous, or block the view of traffic or public safety crews. Limbs over a street or sidewalk are pruned by the city, but only within the right-of-way.
• Private trees: the Urban Forester can't work on private property but can give an opinion on a tree's condition and diagnose problems.

The city also lists Landscape Regulations (16-9-1) and a Public Tree Code (17-6-1). We didn't find a published rule on removing trees from a private lot, so ask before a large removal or a clearing job. Urban Forestry: (501) 651-7733, City Hall Annex, 900 Whittington Avenue, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hot Springs has been a Tree City USA since 2000 and has received the Growth Award since 2001.

Hot Springs National Park

The national park preserves the city's historic center, including Bathhouse Row, and is managed by the National Park Service. If a tree on park land threatens your property, contact the park rather than cutting it.

Hot Springs Village

The Village is governed by the Hot Springs Village Property Owners' Association, a private association run by a general manager and a seven-member volunteer board. Its tree rules aren't summarized here; ask the POA before removing trees. See Hot Springs Village.

Unincorporated Garland County and other towns

Lake Hamilton is an unincorporated community, so city of Hot Springs programs don't automatically reach it; ask Garland County. Mountain Pine and Malvern are their own cities; ask city hall.

State rules

Overhead lines

Arkansas Code § 11-5-308 prohibits work that puts a person, tool or piece of equipment within 10 feet of an energized overhead line, unless the line has been guarded with barriers or de-energized and grounded. Under § 11-5-307, anyone planning work closer than that must give written notice to the line's owner or operator, with a copy to the state, and make arrangements with the operator first.

Digging

Arkansas 811 must be contacted before anyone disturbs the ground, including planting a tree, at any depth. It's free: 811 or 1-800-482-8998. Marks are requested within two full working days, and the ticket lasts 20 working days.

Treating trees for pests

The Arkansas Pest Control Law covers anyone who, for pay, works to control insects, weeds or plant diseases on shade trees, shrubs and lawns, and it has a Tree and Turf Pest Control license classification (Classification 4). A contractor offering to spray or inject a tree for pay should hold it.

Contractor licensing

We didn't find an Arkansas license specific to cutting or removing trees. The Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board licenses commercial contractors and, through its Residential Committee, builders of new homes. If tree work is part of a construction project, ask the board at 501-372-4661 what applies.

Brush pickup

Inside the city, CAPS collects brush on Mondays and Thursdays by appointment (501-321-6921). Cut it to 6 feet or less and 18 inches or less in diameter, keep it out of trash, wire and lumber, and have it at the curb by 6 a.m. with 20 feet of clear space above. Leaves go in plastic bags, up to 50 per collection, and small shrub trimmings no longer than 3 feet or thicker than 3 inches go in bundles one person can lift, every two weeks on recycling days.