Visual Clear Zones

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Each year, Lane County Public Works prunes trees and removes nuisance vegetation from road rights-of-way and visual clear zones.

Maintaining visual clear zones is an important part of keeping drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians safe on our roads by making sure they call all see each other at intersections.

The work is done at no cost to the property owner when a Lane County crew does the work. If you choose to do the work yourself, or hire a contractor at your expense, the finished work must meet Lane County standards and be completed in a timely manner.

Vegetation requirements are detailed in Lane Code 15.010-15.095 and 5.720.

What are visual clear zones?

Visual clear zones help people approaching an intersection at the same time clearly see each other. They help keep drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians safe on our roadways. Property owners are required by Lane Code to keep these zones clear. Public Works will remove any vegetation that obstructs the clear zones or road rights-of-way at no cost to you.

How do I calculate my visual clear zone?

On private property, visual clear zones are triangles at the corners of properties along an intersection. The triangle is measured along the property lines 15 feet back from the corner point. This forms two sides of the triangle. Connecting the two end points completes the triangle, forming the visual clear zone.

This means that inside this triangle all fences, walls, other structures, and all vegetation cannot obstruct visibility between 30 inches to 10 feet above the level of the road surface.

Over public property, including rights-of-way, there must be no obstructions lower than 15 feet directly above the surface of a road, and none lower than 9 feet above any sidewalk.

Permits are required for any plantings or improvements in the public right-of-way.

Illustration showing that visual clear zones are established by calculating the first 15 feet along each side of the corner property line.

Illustration showing that visual clear zones are established by calculating the first 15 feet along each side of the corner property line.

What are requirements for vegetation?

An unobstructed view on private property and planting strips within the public right-of-way must be maintained for safety reasons.

Along all roadways and intersections:

Vegetation (trees, shrubs, plants, etc.) cannot encroach upon or overhang a walkway, planting strip or road.
Trees must be trimmed to 9 feet above a pedestrian way or planting strip and trimmed to 15 feet above a roadway.
Vegetation cannot obstruct the view of traffic signs, signals, street lights or other safety fixtures or markings placed in the right-of-way.
Noxious vegetation (weeds or grass more than 10 inches high, poison oak or ivy, tansy, ragwort, thistle and blackberry bushes) must be removed within the UGB or on properties zoned RR-5, RR-2, RR-1 and RA.

At intersections only:

Vegetation cannot obstruct visibility between 30 inches and 10 feet in the visual clear zones.

Permits are required for any plantings or improvements in the public right-of-way, including planting strips. Applications for a Facility Permit are available from Lane County Public Works by calling 541-682-6902.

Illustration of two trees showing that trees along sidewalks need to be trimmed at least 9 feet above the sidewalk, and trees next to roads need to be trimmed to a minimum of 15 feet above the roadway.

Illustration of two trees showing that trees along sidewalks need to be trimmed at least 9 feet above the sidewalk, and trees next to roads need to be trimmed to a minimum of 15 feet above the roadway.

Diagram of a corner lot with the 15-foot Visual Clear Zone marked.

Questions?

541-682-6947