Friday, February 27, 2015

Legislator wants to outlaw tree-protection ordinances

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM DENYING PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THE RIGHT TO CUT DOWN OR TRIM TREES, BUSHES, OR SHRUBS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Subtitle
TO PROHIBIT CITIES AND COUNTIES FROM DENYING PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THE RIGHT TO CUT DOWN OR TRIM TREES, BUSHES, OR SHRUBS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 14, Chapter 1, is amended to add an additional subchapter to read as follows:
Subchapter 4 - Landowner Tree Maintenance Protection Act
      14-1-401.  Title.
This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Landowner Tree Maintenance Protection Act".
      14-1-402.  Findings and legislative intent.
(a) The General Assembly finds that the right to own, use, and enjoy private property:
            (1)  Is protected by the Arkansas Constitution and the United
States Constitution;
(2) Is a hallmark of Arkansas and American society, deeply
page1image19328
page1image19600
page1image19872
page1image20144
page1image20416
page1image20688
page1image20960
page1image21232
page1image21504
page1image21776
*DLP112* 02-26-2015 12:52:16 DLP112

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
embedded in the fabric of both urban and rural societies; and
(3) Should be protected from undue interference by state and

local government.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly by this act to preserve

and protect the property rights of citizens by ensuring that state, county, and local government does not prohibit a landowner from cutting down, trimming, or removing the landowner's trees, bushes, or shrubs.
      14-1-403.  Definitions.
      As used in this subchapter:
            (1)  "Landowner" means:
                  (A)  An individual who owns real property; and
                  (B)  The authorized agents of an individual who owns real
property; and
(2) "Tree Maintenance" means cutting down, trimming, or removing

a tree, bush, or shrub.
14-1-404. County and municipal ordinances restricting tree maintenance prohibited Exceptions.
(a) A county, city, or town shall not restrict by ordinance or otherwise the right of a landowner to perform tree maintenance on the landowner's property.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not permit a landowner to perform tree maintenance on the landowner's property if the tree maintenance on the landowner's property would violate:
(1) A real property covenant or deed restriction;
(2) A bill of assurance; or
(3) A requirement or restriction imposed by a homeowner's

association, a property owner's association, or a similar organization whether imposed by a duly recorded master deed and bylaws or otherwise.
      14-1-405.  Conflicting ordinances repealed.
      An ordinance of a county, city, or town that conflicts with this
subchapter is repealed to the extent of the conflict.
SB637
page2image21600
page2image21872
page2image22144
page2image22416
page2image22688
page2image22960
page2image23232
page2image23504
page2image23776
page2image24048
page2image24320
page2image24592
page2image24864
page2image25136
page2image25408
page2image25680
page2image25952
page2image26224
page2image26496
page2image26768
page2image27040
page2image27312
page2image27584
page2image27856
page2image28128
page2image28400
page2image28672
page2image28944
page2image29216
page2image29488
page2image29760
2 02-26-2015 12:52:16 DLP112 

No comments:

Post a Comment