CONNECTICUT LAW ON UTILITY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
For less detailed information than provided below, see:
  See Legislation for text and summary of  Public Act 14-151, amending 16-234, which is the primary law governing utility tree pruning and removal and PURA regulation of utilities with regard to pruning and removal.  
  
Flow Chart of Legal Requirements for Utility Vegetation Management

Summary of CT Law on
Utility Vegetation Management, revised January 2017
Table of Contents
I.        Municipal Tree Warden's Appointment, Powers and                     Duties (municipal roads only)
                      A.  Appointment
                      B.  General Powers
                      C.  Tree Warden Permits
                      D.  Tree Warden Posting of Trees and Shrubs for                                 Removal or Pruning
                      E.  Tree Warden Hearings
                      F.  Tree Warden Regulations

II.        Commissioner of Transportation's (DOT) Powers and                  Duties (state highways only)
                      A.  General Powers regarding Trees and Shrubs in                                 the public right-of-way
                      B.  DOT Permits for Utility Pruning and Removal

III.       Legal Standards for Utility Vegetation Management
                      A.  Utility Protection Zone
                      B.   Vegetation Management
                      C.  Performance of Vegetation Management
                      D.  Hazardous Tree

IV.       Notice Requirements Prior to Utility Pruning and                          Removal

V.        Property Owner Objection, Request for Modification,                     Request for Information and Request for Consultation

VI.       PURA Mediation and Hearing Process (within public                  right-of-way)

VII.     Vegetation Management by Utilities on Private Land                      (outside of public right-of-way)

VIII.    DEEP and PURA Review of Utility Vegetation                                  Management Practices
PURA Final Decision, 14-07-18:  Report to General Assembly on Utility Vegetation Management Practices, June 17, 2015 
PURA required the utilities to bring their notices to property owners into compliance with explicit statutory requirements now.  However, the decision allows the utilities to ask tree wardens for permits to prune or remove trees according to rigid line clearance standards, such as ETT, without evaluating and specifying which trees need to be pruned or removed (often referred to as a "blanket permit").  PURA recognized the authority of tree wardens to require evaluation and justification of pruning and removal by the utilities prior to issuing  permits and to otherwise regulate such work, but, if a tree warden does not exercise his/her authority, it falls to property owners alone to object or request a modification.  If some property owners in a community do not understand the loss of benefits, including reduced property values, that unnecessary removal of mature trees can cause, all property owners will be harmed.  
 PURA FINAL DECISION 12-01-10
June 25, 2014 
See PURA for text of decision and background information.
  Summary and Comments on the
PURA Final Decision
12-01-10
Brief Highlights of the PURA Final Decision. 12-01-10 
The Final Decision in Docket No. 12-01-10, Tree Trimming, issued June 25, 2014, made significant improvements in its original draft decision of November 19, 2013 and reflected
the changes in the law made by Public Act 14-151.  PURA and the utilities must, of course, comply with all relevant state statutes. 

        In brief, the Final Decision:
  • Mandates utility flexibility in determining what pruning and removal of roadside trees and shrubs is necessary for utility reliability, and directs the utilities to consider the diversity of vegetation among urban, suburban and rural areas.
  • Requires a utility to evaluate each tree according to numerous relevant criteria ten days prior to notifying a property owner of its plans. 
  • Explicitly states PURA's preference that objections to proposed pruning and removal be resolved at the local level. 
  • Recognizes that no utility pruning or removal can take place without a tree warden permit.
  • Establishes procedures, including maintenance of records,  designed to ensure that all property owners along the roads actually receive notice of proposed pruning and removal, so that they can exercise their rights to object or request modifications in the utility's plans.
  • Requires notice by certified mail, return receipt, if no other methods of contacting a property owner have been successful. 
  • Makes a commitment to work with DEEP's forestry division  in reviewing vegetation management plans and in handling appeals  to PURA by a utility or property owner from a tree warden's decisions. 
  • Requires the utilities to submit specified useful data.  
Page updated July 7, 2014