Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

Tree Trimming

In most cases trees and other vegetation are planted for several reasons including sound or erosion control, providing shade or bringing wildlife to a yard. However, people need to be aware when choosing trees and other plants for their yards that certain types should not be planted under or near overhead power lines. The following information from a study performed by the Ohio State University Extension Office outlines the distance trees should be placed from the lines as well as some of the appropriate types of trees to plant.

Overhead power lines
  • Always plant trees at least 15 feet away from the power lines.
  • If you must plant under or within 15 feet of the power line (Zone 1), plant trees that will stay under 25 feet in height.
  • In Zone 2, trees should be planted 15 feet to 35 feet away from power lines. Trees that stay under 40 feet tall are recommended.
  • Trees that grow taller than 40 feet are recommended for planting in Zone 3 (at least 35 feet away from lines.
Buried power lines
  • Before planting any type of vegetation, call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service at 1-800-362-2764 to locate any underground utilities. This can help prevent outages and injury when digging holes for planting. While normal depth of most buried utility lines is two feet, this can vary. Most new trees should be planted at depths greater than two feet.
  • Trees and other vegetation should not be planted within 10 feet of any utility service equipment, including access boxes for buried power lines.

A sampling of types of recommended trees by height

Diagram of different tree height zones and distances from nearest poles
  • Zone 1 trees (maximum height of 25 feet)
  • Eastern Redbud (20 feet)
  • Amur Maple (25 feet)
  • Chinese Dogwood (25 feet)
  • Washington and Green Hawthorns (25 feet)
  • Flowering Crabapples (10 to 25 feet)
  • Flowering Cherry and Plum (25 feet)
  • Japanese Tree Lilac (25 feet)
  • Red Buckeye (20 to 25 feet)
  • Russian Olive (20 feet)
  • Zone 2 trees (maximum height of 40 feet)
  • Paperbark Maple (35 feet)
  • Goldenrain (35 feet)
  • Callery Pear (35 feet)
  • Amur Corktree (40 feet)
  • Japanese Pagodatree (35 feet)
  • Hedge Maple (35 feet)
  • Lacebark Elm (35 feet)
  • Crabapples (35 feet)
  • Zone 3 trees (maximum height of 80 feet)
  • Freeman Maple (65 feet)
  • Ginkgo (60 feet)
  • Thornless Honeylocust (65 feet)
  • American Sweetgum (55 feet)
  • Pine Oak (65 feet)
  • Northern Red Oak (60 feet)
  • Baldcypress (50 feet)
  • Silver Linden (60 feet)
  • Hybrid Elms (60 feet)
  • River Birch (50 to 60 feet)
  • European Beech (60 to 80 feet)
  • Burr Oak (60 to 80 feet)
  • Shumard Oak (60 to 80 feet)
If you are unsure which type of tree to purchase, talk with your local nursery to determine what trees are correct for your area of the state and for the height you need.
Information believed accurate but not guaranteed.
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