SECTION .0800 ‑ URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY

02 NCAC 60B .0801          DEFINITIONS

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms as used in this Section are defined as follows:

(1)           "Urban and community forestry" can be defined as the protecting, developing, and managing groups or stands of trees and related plant communities in suburban or metropolitan areas to:

(a)           enhance the natural beauty;

(b)           help abate city noises;

(c)           modify local temperatures;

(d)           help reduce air pollution;

(e)           provide natural areas for recreation;

(f)            provide food, cover, and habitat for wildlife;

(g)           help maintain watersheds for quantity production of quality water;

(h)           reduce soil erosion and stream sedimentation;

(i)            efficiently utilize forest products produced in the urban areas;

(j)            provide protection from insects, diseases and other harmful agents;

(2)           Community and Urban Area Recipients.  Qualifying municipal and local governments with a population of less than 50,000 according to the latest census known to the urban area or community, and settlements containing 100 or more families who:

(a)           express an interest in program discussion,

(b)           establish a local tree ordinance, and

(c)           appoint a tree board;

(3)           Public Recipients.  Recipients include federal and state agencies and educational institutions;

(4)           Private Recipients.  Private organizations; utilities; private corporations and consultants; contractors, developers and owners of residential and commercial property; homeowner associations; individual homeowners and tenants may receive technical services through the tree board;

(5)           "Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development;

(6)           "Department" shall mean the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development;

(7)           "Program" shall mean the urban and community forestry program as defined and described in this Section;

(8)           "Tree board" shall mean local governing body, tree board, appearance committee or other official group assigned jurisdiction for administration of a tree ordinance by the local governing body;  It may be a committee, sub‑committee or other official group with similar interests.  A tree ordinance will totally or in part delineate requirements for street trees, place regulatory power over street trees on the lands of the municipality, set protection standards for maintenance and care of trees, govern private trees deemed a nuisance or a hazard to adjacent private or public property, and serve as a policy statement for the community or urban area.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 106-22; 106-1001; 143B‑10(j);

Eff. August 8, 1978;

Transferred from 15A NCAC 09C .1001 Eff. May 1, 2012;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. September 19, 2015.