As warmer weather arrives, our code enforcement inspectors are seeing a sharp increase in overgrown vegetation affecting sidewalks, rights‑of‑way, and building access. These conditions can create safety hazards for pedestrians, limit visibility, and impede emergency access.
What we look for during inspections:
- Clear, unobstructed sidewalks from concrete edge to concrete edge (full walking width)
- Vegetation trimmed to maintain a minimum 8‑foot vertical clearance above all sidewalks and pedestrian paths
- Trees and shrubs trimmed to provide 14‑foot vertical clearance above the street to allow safe vehicle and emergency access
How property owners can help:
- Do a perimeter walk of your property once a month, spring growth happens fast
- Trim vegetation early and often to prevent branches from sagging into sidewalks as they gain weight.
- Check areas behind fences or retaining walls where plants can spill into public space unnoticed
Thank you to property owners and managers who are proactively maintaining vegetation this season. Your efforts help keep Seattle’s neighborhoods safe, accessible, and welcoming.