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North Ridgeville council updates street-tree code, expands arborist authority
Summary
After months of review, City Council adopted an updated trees chapter replacing an ordinance that largely dated to the 1960s, giving the city arborist clearer enforcement powers, creating an administratively maintained master tree plan, and changing permit and fee language.
North Ridgeville City Council adopted an updated trees ordinance on April 21, 2025, replacing Chapter 10.30 (Street Trees) with a new Chapter 10.30 (Trees) and repealing Chapter 10.32 (Master Tree Plan).
The change, introduced by Mayor Corcoran, gives the city arborist clearer authority over trees in the right of way and public places, establishes a separate master tree plan to be adopted by the Planning Commission and maintained by the arborist, and adds enforcement tools including notices of violation, abatement, a lien process and an appeal pathway. The ordinance was discussed for more than 20 minutes at the Committee of the Whole on April 21 before council acted to adopt the final ordinance later that evening.
Planning and Development Director Kim Lieber said the city undertook the update after the appointment of a new city arborist and a multi-month review, explaining that many provisions in the existing code “date back to the 1960s, and so it really was in dire need of a refresh.” Lieber said the revision aims to “clarify the authority of the city arborist over trees in the right of way and also public places,” and to move the master tree plan to an administrative document that can be updated as species and best practices change.
Ryan Thomas, identified in the meeting as the city arborist, described how enforcement timing will be flexible to match risk. He said, “the severity of the risk that the tree presents will dictate the amount of time given to abate the hazard,” and added that he has given 30 days before on lower-risk items while faster action is taken for high-risk hazards.
The ordinance also creates a list of prohibited trees to be maintained by the city arborist, requires registration for contractors who perform tree work in the city, and updates penalties. Lieber said the master tree plan will include “best practices, planting diagrams, and other educational tools” to help public outreach and planting decisions, and she linked the changes to the city’s interest in pursuing Tree City USA recognition.
Council members raised several points before voting. Mrs. Swank asked whether existing prohibited species would have to be removed; Lieber said generally “the prohibited trees can generally stay” and the city would not force removal of a healthy, existing tree but could require removal if it became hazardous. Councilmember Abrams and others questioned an $80 permit fee for trimming; discussion at committee resulted in a motion to send the draft back to council with the words “in the amount of $80” removed from section 3. That motion (made by Jacobs, seconded by Winkle) passed on a roll-call vote.
Later in the meeting council adopted the finalized replacement Chapter 10.30. Separately, related fee language in Chapter 10.10 (Engineering Permits and Fees) was amended during the full council session: the tree permit fee figure that had been listed as $80 was changed to $0 in a different ordinance addressing fees, and council adopted that amendment.
Councilmembers and staff emphasized outreach and homeowner education as a central objective. Lieber said the city will publish guidance and training; she noted the communications director has already begun monthly messaging on tree care topics. The arborist said he will coordinate with Ohio Edison’s forester on utility-line trimming and that, where utility crews do not follow proper cuts, he can require corrective work.
The ordinance adoption formalizes enforcement steps (notices, abatement, lien) similar to the city’s property-maintenance processes and adds boundary-line tree language not previously in code. The master tree plan will be an administrative document recommended by the Planning Commission and maintained by the arborist, allowing the city to update prohibited or recommended species without changing the city code.
Council President Jacobs called the motion to adopt; the roll call showed unanimous support and the ordinance was adopted as amended. The city will next submit a draft master tree plan to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation, after which council will consider adopting the plan as an administrative document.
