[CANUFNET] Tree Clearance around Overhead Utilities

[Mark Carroll]

Where I was the lead Urban Forester/Arborist, we had our Municipal Tree Protection Bylaw that really protected the trees. In Ontario, Ontario Hydro can and will supersede these bylaws. Hydro One or whatever the electrical supplier, has the ability to prune trees however they see fit to keep the power on. This only involved Primary Hydro Lines. Secondary hydro and communication lines are not included in the clearances and do not fall under the electrical suppliers jurisdiction. Most secondary hydro and communication lines are the responsibility of the homeowner. The trees that are near or around secondary lines that fall under the jurisdiction of the municipality, may be pruned by our forestry teams, but this is not a high priority. With secondary lines there is or is very little concern with electrocution coming from those lines. We have had trees grow around secondary lines, this means that the line was actually in the limb, with no concerns. If residents are concerned with the lines going through the municipal tree, we will give the secondary line a little clearance. This will prevent rubbing of the tree, damaging the bark. We usually looked at 1 meter as a rule of thumb for maximum clearance. Warmest Regards,Mark CarrollISA Certified Arborist/ConsultantCertified Lab Tech, Soil BiologyBiologically-Complete Compost Specialist
Dirt to Soil Inc.Biological Solutions to Growing and Caring For Plants



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    On Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 08:09:44 a.m. EDT, Corkum-Gorrill, Jessika via CANUFNET <canufnet at list.web.net> wrote:  
 
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Hello,
 
  
 
PEI still has mainly overhead power lines with few buried underground. With increased intense storms and power outages, our local utility is working to increase tree clearances around power lines. Communication delivered across the province from the electrical utility company requests that all trees be planted 45ft from overhead power lines. They are also working to increase clearances of existing trees/natural areas near lines. In urban areas, tree removals even 1/3 of the distance above would be detrimental to our already shrinking tree canopy.
 
  
 
Can anyone in this group speak to or share your bylaws or regulations for municipally owned tree protection, clearances, pruning, removals, planting near overhead utilities (in an urban setting)? Also, any input on ensuring occupational health and safety considerations for utility workers and how that relates to proximity of trees to the lines would be welcomed as well.  
 
  
 
Many thanks!
Jessika
 
  
 
Jessika Corkum-Gorrill
 
Manager, Environment and Sustainability
 
 
 
City of Charlottetown
 
PO Box 98, 199 Queen Street
 
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
 
Canada, C1A 7K2
 
Office: 902.629.4122
 
 
 
jcorkumgorrill at charlottetown.ca
 
www.charlottetown.ca
 
  
 
  
 

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