THE municipal bylaws with regard to trees state the following:
1) No person may (a) plant a tree or shrub in a public road or public place, cut down a tree or a shrub in a public road or public place, or remove it there from, except with the written permission of the municipality; (b) climb, break or damage a tree growing in a public road or public place; or (c) in any way mark or paint any tree growing in a public road or public place, subject to the municipality’s regulations pertaining to the display of advertising signs, attach any advertisements thereto.
2)Any tree or shrub planted in a public road or public place is the property of the municipality.
3)Whenever there is upon any property any tree or other growth which interferes with overhead wires or is a source of annoyance, damage, danger or inconvenience to the persons using a public road or public place, the municipality may by notice in writing order the owner or occupier of such property to prune or remove such a tree or growth to the extent and within the period specified in such a notice.
4) A person who contravenes, or who fails to comply with a notice issued in terms of subsection (1), or who fails to comply with a notice issued in terms of subsection (3) commits an offence.
5) If any person fails to comply with a notice in terms of subsection (3), the municipality may itself prune or remove the tree or growth at the expense of the person on whom the notice was served.
