Tree Trimming

Idaho Falls Power will trim trees away from primary power lines, which are those running from power pole to power pole. The secondary line, which runs from your house or business to the pole (and transformer), is the property owner's responsibility, but IFP will temporarily cut power to the property at no charge during business hours, in order for you to safely trim or remove any tree or limb in contact with the secondary line.
Tree Clearance Diagram

City Code


This is the city code pertaining to planting of trees around overhead and underground lines.

8-9-9: Utilities


(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to plant any public or private tree under or within 20 lateral feet of any overhead utility wire, or over or within 5 lateral feet of any underground water line, sewer line, electric transmission or distribution line or other utility except the following species of trees:
  • Acer ginnala
  • Amelanchier alnifolia
  • Cherry, Canada Red
  • Crabapple, (persistent or fruitless varieties)
  • Elm, Camperdown
  • Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ‘Imperial'
  • Honeylocust, Imperia
  • Lilac, Japanese Tree
  • Malus spp.
  • Maple, Amur
  • Mayday
  • Mountain Ash, European
  • Plum, Newport
  • Prunus cerasifera ‘Newport'
  • Prunus padus
  • Prunus virginiana ‘Shubert'
  • Rhus typhina
  • Serviceberry, Saskatoon
  • Sorbus aucuparia
  • Sumac, Staghorn
  • Syringa reticulata
  • Ulmus blabra ‘Camperdownii'
Other species may be planted only with written permission from the Parks and Recreation Division.

(B) It shall be unlawful to plant any public or private tree in any location in any manner which does not comply with the safety standards for planting and maintenance of trees in proximity to public utilities, as set forth in ANSI Z133.1.

(C) The City of Idaho Falls will not be responsible for damage to any tree or shrub located within a utility easement as a result of the operation or maintenance of City utility lines. Damage to any public utility system caused by trees improperly located within the public right-of-way or easement will be repaired at the owner's expense. (Ord. 2207, August 8, 1996; Ord. 2486, March 27, 2003; Ord 2738, February 14, 2008; Ord 2877, August 11, 2011)

**Other species of trees planted must be under 25 feet at full growth and cannot be planted without permission from the city.