DC fines for tree overgrowth into alley?

[Anonymous]

I closed on a house two days ago and today an inspector was taking photos of the shrubbery around the new house. In the back, there are trees that have grown past the retaining wall into the alley, about a foot into the alley space. I'm from another state, a few days into living in DC, and had no idea. Did a neighbor call the police or something? I looked at google photos from 10 years ago and the trees grew out exactly the same way as they look today, so it's weird that I'm there for a few days and get hit with this.

What is the fine? I haven't received the citation yet, but I know it's coming. I already hate it here.

[Anonymous]

It will most likely be a warning and you have sometime to get it done. You can appeal if you want. They can only issue tickets for safety issue not aesthetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will most likely be a warning and you have sometime to get it done. You can appeal if you want. They can only issue tickets for safety issue not aesthetic.

She was pretty emphatic that if I didn't take care of it within 2 weeks I would get a hefty ticket. I'm scrambling to find tree trimmers, but nervous about damaging the trees in a hasty hedging, rather than a proper pruning. Anyway, what a sh*t welcome to a new city.

[Anonymous]

If you just closed, why didn't your own inspectors tell you there was an issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you just closed, why didn't your own inspectors tell you there was an issue?

Because it's not an issue. Nobody thought it was an issue for 20 something years until now.

[Anonymous]

Long time DC resident here who can’t figure out what the issue is. Of course a mature tree’s canopy would extend into the public space. In recent years DC has been trying to increase the number of trees in the city, even offering hefty rebates for planting shade trees on private property.

DDOT oversees urban forestry as well as alleys. Try getting in touch with them. They should be able to direct you to the arborist for your ward.

Casey Trees is a non-profit organization in the city. They are well acquainted with urban forestry and may even know the applicable regulations. They won’t know about fines or how to fight those, however.

Above all, don’t panic. I don’t think this was DC’s doing. If I had to guess, you have a neighbor who hates the tree. He or she has been waiting for someone to take possession of the house and then immediately called 311. Mind your p’s and q’s by making sure to keep your trash bins, weeds, etc. in order and always pull permits for construction because someone near you is petty as hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will most likely be a warning and you have sometime to get it done. You can appeal if you want. They can only issue tickets for safety issue not aesthetic.

She was pretty emphatic that if I didn't take care of it within 2 weeks I would get a hefty ticket. I'm scrambling to find tree trimmers, but nervous about damaging the trees in a hasty hedging, rather than a proper pruning. Anyway, what a sh*t welcome to a new city.

There should be a way to appeal. Call your council person. DC use to have a sweep program for vacant properties. Maybe this is some how related? The program was missed use by busy bodies who did not like flowers in the tree boxes. So they would call the city and get the property ticketed. There are many over grown properties(include the DC government properties) that block vehicles views or are rat dens. These places never get ticketed. Fight the system! Start at the council level.

[Anonymous]

Hard to tell from OP's description but if the trees are blocking the alley and inhibiting garbage trucks from getting through the city has a legitimate interest here.

And so does OP if that is the case - a truck is going to barrel through one of these days and damage one of your trees, potentially fatally if they hit the branch at the right angle.

For whatever reason the trash guys are very efficient at generating DCRA complaints and inspections so that would be by guess at what prompted this.

In any case it is not hard to find qualified tree trimmers and based on the description it should not be expensive work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard to tell from OP's description but if the trees are blocking the alley and inhibiting garbage trucks from getting through the city has a legitimate interest here.

And so does OP if that is the case - a truck is going to barrel through one of these days and damage one of your trees, potentially fatally if they hit the branch at the right angle.

For whatever reason the trash guys are very efficient at generating DCRA complaints and inspections so that would be by guess at what prompted this.

In any case it is not hard to find qualified tree trimmers and based on the description it should not be expensive work.

Well OP will have to get a permit to do work in the alley or if a tree has to be talked down. The tree removal permits are very expensive.

[Anonymous]

1) It's possible a neighbor complained, or it's possible the city saw the issue while going through alley (trash, to clean).

2) It is your responsibility to keep your shrubs and trees from interfering with public space, which the alley is. If you have shrubs blocking the sidewalk you can be directed to correct that as well.

3) Have you received a notice of violation yet? That will specify (a) the timetable for correction and (b) the potential fine. The goal is to get it fixed, not to issue a fine. Typically you have 15 days, but I'm pretty sure if you took longer but fixed the issue you could get any fine waived.

4) There is a right of appeal to the office of administrative hearings if you want to "fight" anything.

5) Sorry for the poor welcome to DC. You'll get used to the fact that the government is much better at issuing citations than performing other services, but turns out to be almost as bad at enforcing those citations . . .