Planting in the Greeley Right of Way

Written permits are required before planting any plant materials other than lawn upon any public rights-of-way or "parkways" within the city limits of Greeley.  Any illegal or unauthorized planting or volunteer growth occurring after January 1, 1977, may be ordered removed by the Community Development Department.

Application process

1. Call 811 for utility locates
   • The individual responsible for the planting must be the party who calls in the utilities locate information
   • Please allow at least two business days after the request for locates to be completed
   • You may request locates online
2. Complete a Right of Way Planting Permit Application
   • Residential permit fee: $10
   • Commercial landscaping (including subdivisions): $50 / review hour
3. Submit your application and site plan drawing to:
   

   Community Development Department
   Planning Division
   1100 10th Street, Suite 202
   Greeley, Colorado 80631
   970-350-9780 tel
   970-350-9800 fax

4. City staff reviews the application and plans
   • Withing 7-10 days, a staff member will contact you regarding a site visit to confirm the plan details and layout
   • Individual planting sites must be determined. These can be marked with labeled stakes, flags or spray paint on the ground
   • You do not need to be present for the site visit
5. Your permit, if approved will be sent to you and will include a 'plant by' date.
   • All plant material must be installed by the 'plant by' date
   • Any and all revisions will require a plan re-submittal
6. Following the expiration of the 'plant by' date, City staff will review the installation and offer feedback if required.

Right of way planting regulations

Before you begin, be aware that there are species restrictions. Please review our Parkway Planting Flier and Parkway FAQs.

• Unless otherwise authorized by the permit, all newly-planted street trees shall be planted midway between the sidewalk and the curb.
• Trees which attain a large maturity (over 20’ in height) shall be spaced at least 35 feet apart (including trees on neighboring properties) to allow for safe, healthy, attractive growth.
• Smaller or ornamental types of trees, when designated as such by the permit, may be spaced at a minimum of 25 feet apart.
• No trees shall be planted closer than five feet to any driveway or alley,
• No trees shall be planted in such a manner that eventual growth cannot be reasonably maintained so as to avert interference with, or obstruction of, any improvement installed for the public benefit such as traffic and street signs and lights, fire hydrants, overhead utility wires, street lights, utility poles, etc.
• Perennials and shrubs must not exceed a mature height of 18”.
• Trees or woody plants cannot be planted in a parkway or right of way that is less than five feet in width
• Where the combination sidewalk-curb and gutter have been installed, no tree plantings are to be made closer than five feet from the edge of any concrete installation.
• Trees are not to be planted within 10 feet of either side of water, sewer, or storm drain service lines.
• No more than six of the same tree genus may be used consecutively in a row-type planting.