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City of Dickson Municipal Code

Title 2

CHAPTER 3

TREE MANAGEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION BOARD

SECTION
2-301. Purpose.
2-302. Creation of a tree management and beautification board.
2-303. Term of office.
2-304. Operation.
2-305. Duties and responsibilities.
2-306. Compensation.
2-301. Purpose. The purpose of this board is to provide a mechanism for the management of
trees, woody and ornamental vegetation in the City of Dickson. (Ord. # 939, July 1996)
2-302. Creation of a tree management and beautification board. There is hereby created a
Tree Management Board for the City of Dickson, which shall consist of seven (7) members who
are citizens and residents of the City of Dickson. Members shall be appointed by the mayor and
approved by the city council. (Ord. # 939, July 1996)
2-303. Term of office. Members shall serve three (3) year terms, except the first board which
will have two (2) members appointed for one (1) year and three (3) members appointed for two
(2) years, and two (2) members appointed for three (3) years. Members may serve successive
terms. Vacancies are filled by appointment by the mayor until the end of the term. (Ord. # 939,
July 1996)
2-304. Operation. The board shall choose its own officers, recommend rules and regulations
to the city council and keep a record of its proceedings. Copies of the minutes shall be available to
the governing body after each board meeting. Meetings shall be held quarterly, or more often if
called by the chairman of the board. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for
transaction of business. (Ord. # 939, July 1996)
2-305. Duties and responsibilities. The duties of the tree management board shall include,
but not be limited to the following:
1) Prepare a tree and beautification plan for the community.
2) Coordinate plant-related activities.
3) Conduct Arbor Day ceremonies
4) Provide tree, shrub, and flower information to the community.
5) Maintain a recommended tree, shrub, and flower list for the community.
6) Recognize groups and individuals completing planting projects.

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7) Coordinate publicity concerning tree, shrub and flower planting programs.
8) Coordinate donations of tree, shrub and flowers or money to purchase plants.
9) Perform other planting related duties and opportunities that arise from time to time. (Ord.

939, July 1996)

2-306. Compensation. Members of the board shall serve with fifty dollars ($50.00)
compensation per quarterly meeting. (Ord. # 939, July 1996; amended by Ord. #1277, Nov. 2009)

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Title 20

CHAPTER 6
TREE ORDINANCE
SECTION
20-601. Purpose and intent.
20-602. Definitions.
20-603. Tree committee.
20-604. Tree planting.
20-605. Tree protection.
20-606. Activities of developers.
20-607. Mostly highly recommended street and yard tree for Middle Tennessee as recommended
by State of Tennessee Forestry Division.
20-608. Tree maintenance.
20-601. Purpose and intent.
1) The purpose of this ordinance is to promote the health, safety, and public welfare in the
City of Dickson, and consistent with urban forestry policy and practice for urban areas
promulgated by the Division of Forestry of the State of Tennessee:
a) To encourage the planting of trees in the City of Dickson;
b) To encourage the maintenance and protection of existing trees; and
c) To encourage the removal of undesirable or diseased trees.
2) The standards herein are hereby established in order to lessen air pollution, to promote
clean air quality by increasing dust filtration, to reduce noise, heat, and glare, to prevent
soil erosion, to improve surface drainage and minimize flooding, to ensure that
activities in one area do not adversely affect activities within adjacent areas, to
emphasize the importance of trees as a visual screen, to beautify and enhance improved
and undeveloped land, to maintain the ambience of the city, to ensure that tree planting
and removal does not reduce property values, and to minimize the cost of construction
and maintenance of drainage systems necessitated by the increased flow and diversion
of surface waters. (Ord. #1289, Dec. 2010)
20-602. Definitions. Except where the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this section shall govern the construction of this ordinance.
1) “Adjusted Caliper Inches (ACI).” The number value resulting from the multiplication
of the tree value factor times the actual measured caliper inches of trees in each
respective category of trees.
2) “Caliper inches.” For trees larger than four inches (4”), the quantity in inches of the
diameter of a tree measured one foot (1’) above the ground. For trees smaller than four
inches (4”), the quantity of the diameter of a tree measure six inches (6”) above the
ground.
3) “Conifer tree.” Any tree with needle leaves and a woody cone fruit.
4) “Category I Trees.” Broad-leaf evergreen overstory, selected hardwoods, and
endangered species – Tree value factor = 1.0.
5) “Category II Trees.” Some deciduous overstory hardwoods, selected cone-bearing
evergreens – Tree value factor= 0.75.
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6) “Category III Trees.” Some deciduous overstory hardwoods, some cone-bearing
evergreens – Tree value factor= 0.5.
7) “Deciduous tree.” Any tree which sheds its leaves in the fall or winter.
8) “Developer.” A builder, in the private sector, who plans and builds commercial or
residential property to specification.
9) “Drip line.” A vertical line extending from the outermost portion of a tree to the ground.
10) “Endangered species.” Those trees are under the protection of state and/or federal law.
11) “Evergreen.” Those trees, including broad-leaf and conifer trees that maintain their
leaves year ‘round.
12) “Line clearance.” Removal of limbs and branches within a set distance of utility lines.
13) “Non-development activity.” Any alteration of the natural environment which does not
require development plan approval, but which would include the proposed removal or
destruction of any tree affected by this ordinance.
14) “Private tree.” Any tree in an area owned by a private individual, business, company,
industry, or institution, or in any area not owned by a governmental entity.
15) “Protected tree.” Any tree in Category I which is six (6) caliper inches or larger, any
tree in Category II which is ten (10) caliper inches or larger, and any tree in Category
III which is eighteen (18) caliper inches or larger, as listed in Appendix A, as attached
hereto.
16) “Pruning.” Selective removal of the upper portions of any tree, taking into account the
natural shape and structure of the tree.
17) “Public tree.” Any tree in an area owned or maintained by the City of Dickson.
18) “Replacement tree.” Any tree being planted on a site to replace a tree which has been
removed or destroyed for any reason.
19) “Supplemental tree.” Any tree being planted on a site which is in addition to existing
trees and replacement trees.
20) “Topping.” The non-selective removal of the top portions of any tree without regard to
the natural shape and structure of the tree.
21) “Tree.” Any living, self-supporting woody or fibrous plant which is a conifer,
evergreen, deciduous, or ornamental, as defined herein.
22) “Tree value factor.” The numerical value assigned to each tree category that represents
the importance of that category of trees with respect to visual buffering, growth
characteristics, native species, and aesthetics. The tree value factor for trees in Category
I is 1.0; Category II – 0.75; and for Category III – 0.5. The Tree Value Factor for all
existing protected trees on a development site, regardless of category – 1.0. The tree
value factor for all trees in screen areas – 1.0. (Ord. #1289, Dec. 2010)
20-603. Tree committee.
1) Creation of the tree management and beautification board. The creation, purpose, term
of office, operation, and compensation of the tree management and beautification board
adopted as outlined and defined in chapter 3, §§ 2-301 through 2-306 in the City of
Dickson Municipal Code.
2) Duties and responsibilities. The duties of the tree board shall include, but not be limited
to the following:
a) Plant trees.
b) Consult on a tree plan for the community, if requested.
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c) Coordinate tree-related activities.
d) Acquire, hand out trees to fourth graders in Dickson County in observance of Arbor
Day.
e) Provide tree information to the community, as requested.
f) Maintain a recommended tree list for the community.
g) Recognize groups and individuals completing tree projects.
h) Coordinate publicity concerning trees and tree programs.
i) Coordinate donations of trees or money to purchase trees. This may include
fundraisers.
j) Adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the tree program.
k) Provide oversight of the Dickson Community Nature Trail/Certified Buckner Park
Arboretum.
3) Compensation. Members of the tree board shall serve with compensation as approved
by the city council. (Ord. #1289, Dec. 2010)
20-604. Tree planting.
1) Public trees. If the city undertakes to plant trees in any public area, the city may conduct
with the tree board to provide systematic maintenance to assure diversity of age,
classes, and species.
2) Private trees. Planting of trees on private property is encouraged, especially in areas
where the public may have an extraordinary interest. The tree board will provide
information about species, planting techniques, and placement guidelines when
requested by residents.
3) Replacement trees. The tree board shall in the normal course of its recommendation
process, suggest the planting of public trees or private trees to replace trees which have
been removed, destroyed, or severely damaged, except that in no case shall replacement
trees be required in excess of the minimum ACI density established in section
“activities of developers” listed below of this ordinance.
4) Supplemental trees. The planning commission shall, in the normal course of its
approval process, recommend the planting of private trees to supplement the trees on
any site proposed for development, except that in no case shall supplement trees be
required in excess of the minimum ACI density established in section “activities of
developers” listed below of this ordinance.
5) Prohibited plantings. It shall be discouraged for any person to plant trees as follows:
a) Within any recorded sewer or water easement: Any species prone to clogging water
or sewer lines with roots, including, but not limited to: Poplar, Box Elder, Silver
Maple, American Elm, Catalpa, Siberian Elm, Cottonwood, Black Walnut, and
Weeping Willow.
b) Within any recorded easement for overhead electric or telephone lines: Any species
known to reach a mature height greater than twenty feet (20’).
c) On any public lands: Any species known to be undesirable, weak, short-lived,
disease prone, or to belong to an overpopulation of its species, including, but not
limited to: Box Elder (female), Silver Maple, Hackberry, American Elm, Osage
Orange (female), Cottonwood (except hybrids), Bradford Pears and Royal Paulonia
(Empress Tree). (Ord. #1289, Dec. 2010)
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20-605. Tree protection.
1) Public trees. It shall be unlawful for any person other than authorized city personnel to
remove or cause to be removed any public tree or other woody plant whether such
plants are trees as defined herein, or small flora which are part of the understory, shrub
layer, or herb layer, or any size or of any species without first obtaining the
recommendation of the tree board and the approval of the mayor or his/her designee.
2) Other private flora. Consistent with the expressed purpose of this ordinance, all persons
are encouraged to make reasonable efforts to preserve and retain on all private lands
any existing woody plants, whether such plants are trees as defined herein, or smaller
flora which are part of the understory, shrub layer, or herb layer. (Ord. #1289, Dec.
2010)
20-606. Activities of developers.
1) Protected trees. Developers shall indicate on site plans submitted to the planning
commission for approval, the location of protected tress, as defined herein, which are
proposed to be destroyed during the course of development. The planning commission
may, at its option, do any or all of the following:
a) Encourage that any protected tree(s) that is destroyed be replaced according to the
provisions of § 20-604 “tree planting” of this chapter.
b) Encourage that the site plan be altered so as to preserve any protected tree(s).
c) Encourage that developer transplant any protected tree(s) to another location on the
site.
d) The tree board suggests that any of the following trees be planted as public or
private trees. (Ord. #1289, Dec. 2010)
20-607. Most highly recommended street and yard trees for Middle Tennessee as
recommended by State of Tennessee Forestry Division.
1) Small trees (15’-25’).
a) American Smoke Tree (Cotinus obovatus).
b) Serviceberry.
c) Crape myrtle.
d) Crabapple.
e) Redbud.
f) Amur Maakia.
g) Globe Norway maple.
h) Wireless Zelkova.
i) Tatarian maple.
j) Fragrant epaulette tree.
2) Mid-sized trees (25’-40’).
a) Overcup oak.
b) Chalk maple.
c) American hophornbeam.
d) Persimmon.
e) Chinese pistache.
f) Lacebark elm.
g) Goldenrain tree.
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h) Turkish filbert.
3) Large trees (> 40’).
a) American elm, resistant.
b) Black maple.
c) Swamp white oak.
d) Bur oak.
e) Willow oak.
f) Ginkgo.
g) Hardy rubber tree.
h) Japanese Zelkova.
Note: columnar (fastigiate) varieties are available for several species where horizontal space is quite limited. (Ord. #1289, Dec. 2010)
20-608. Tree maintenance.
1) Public trees. The City of Dickson shall be responsible for pruning, watering, fertilizing,
insect and disease control, and other tree care to keep all public trees reasonably healthy
and minimize the risk of hazard to residents and visitors to the city.
2) Private trees. Care and maintenance of private trees are encouraged to minimize health
and safety risks to people. The City of Dickson may remove, prune, fertilize, water, or
otherwise treat with insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, or other means, any private
tree which overhangs any public right-of-way, comes in contact with overhead utility
lines, creates any traffic hazard by restricting visibility, or poses a health risk to other
plants, animals, or persons by disease or insect infestation.
3) Pruning. Proper pruning with branch removal at branch or trunk junctures is required
for all public trees, and strongly encouraged for all private trees. The practice of tree
topping is discouraged on public trees and strongly discouraged on private trees.
4) Hazardous trees. Trees standing on public land or standing on private land adjacent to
any public land that are designated hazardous trees by the city may be removed or
repaired (by means of trimming, pruning, or treating) if the public works director or
his/her designee determines the removal or repair is necessary to protect the public
health and safety. If the hazardous tree is on private land, the public works director or
his/her designee may notify the owner of the private land in writing of said risk and
request the removal or repair of the hazardous tree within a prescribed period of time.
If the owner of the private land does not remove or repair the hazardous tree within
the prescribed time, then the public works director or his/her designee shall have the
authority to enter upon the private land and remove or repair the hazardous tree. The
cost of removal or repair including stump removal to below ground level may be
charged against the owner.

(Ord. #1289, Dec. 2010; amended Ord. #1310, Nov. 2012)