[Right Wing Assault]

Usually a street has a right of way that is much larger than the street. A 25 foot street may have a 50 foot right of way. (13 feet is not a magic number. It varies.) It extends just to the other side of the sidewalk. The land between the street and the sidewalks is the property of the city. Often hydrants, gas pipes, etc. are in this area. But the homeowner usually must maintain the sidewalk and cut the grass. They do not own the tree. They usually aren't supposed to plant trees, either. The city can cut them down if they need to.

BTW, the land between the sidewalk and the street is called the "tree lawn" in Cleveland and a few other places. Most people don't have a name for it.

[Cicero]

Exactly. Certainly in the towns where I've lived--in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont--the right of way is measured in feet from the center line of the road, and the town technically does as it likes with it. They can put in drainage ditches, sidewalks, or whatever, and they usually prohibit plantings that would interfere with drivers' vision on curves.

The problem here seems to be that this politico is a petty tyrant, who is stirring up trouble because he's too stupid to be polite. Usually, it's live and let live. You can prune dead branches from the trees on the edge of your property, but you shouldn't cut them down. You can have a hedge, but it can't be in the public right of way. You can plant flowers, but they shouldn't interfere with driver's vision, prevent cars from seeing pedestrians, or be liable to cause accidents.

[Orange1998]

Houston has the same unconstitutional laws. Involuntary servitude and unfunded mandate, maybe someday it will be challenged. Here is the law verbatim.

Right of Way Responsibility

The City’s Code of Ordinances (10-451b) requires each property owner to maintain 14 feet in front of and behind his or her property line, this includes the city right-of-way. Just as you mow and maintain the grassy area in front of your home all the way to your curb or street, you are also responsible for mowing the side and back of your property if it extends to a curb, street, alley or ditch.

You are responsible for more than just your property. As a resident, you are responsible for your neighborhood. This includes the city right-of-way adjacent to your home. Not only is it required, it is the right thing to do – it maintains the quality of life in your neighborhood. Each time you mow or pick up trash, you are doing more than yard work – you are improving your neighborhood.

[Surtur]

BTW, the land between the sidewalk and the street is called the "tree lawn" in Cleveland and a few other places. Most people don't have a name for it.

In my town, that piece of property is known as a "devil strip".

[Oratam]

Dog walk?

[muir_redwoods]

It's known as the "Devil's Strip" in most of New England. It's based on a historically accurate idea of what we used to think of the Government. So sorry it's changed so much since then.