Circuit Tree Maintenance

Circuit Tree Maintenance is an industry best practice that involves staff moving systematically in a ‘circuit’ throughout the County, proactively inspecting and scheduling maintenance to all street trees under our care on a five-year cycle. This ensures that every street tree maintained by the County is inspected at least every five years, with work scheduled as needed.  

Our current 5-year circuit began in the Shirlington neighborhood in Fall 2024 and is anticipated to finish in Arlingwood neighborhood in summer 2029. Once completed, the circuit will restart in Fairlington neighborhood and move northward, beginning a new 5-year cycle. With approximately 19,500 street trees  in our inventory, we will average 3,900 trees maintained every year. 

The Map below shows our current progress along the Circuit, with completed neighborhoods in grey and neighborhoods in progress indicated with a clock icon. We expect to close out in Fiscal Year 2026 (June of 2026) in Ballston/Virginia Square. Neighborhoods are numbered in the order that tree maintenance will occur:

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Last updated Sept. 11, 2025

Tree Issues Addressed

1. Removing dead, broken, overextended, or diseased branches larger than 4 inches in diameter and trees that pose an unacceptable risk to people, vehicles, or structures.
2. Providing a vertical clearance of 7 ft. over sidewalks, 10 ft. over most streets and parking spaces, and 16 ft. over arterial streets, depending on situation.
3. Maintaining visual clearance of critical infrastructure such as stop signs and traffic signals.
4. Pruning limbs within 5 ft. of buildings. Trees may be pruned up to 10 ft. away, depending on situation.
5. Pruning young trees for improved long-term stability and health.
6. Removing downed limbs and trees, outside of natural areas.

View which trees are scheduled for maintenance on our Tree Maintenance Map

What to Expect?

• No-parking signs will be installed where needed in advance for the anticipated duration of tree maintenance.
• Maintenance typically lasts a couple of days, depending on the work involved
• Arlington County will contact the Civic Association to inform them of the upcoming maintenance activity.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) informational signs will be installed at major entrances to the neighborhood.

Will trees be removed as part of this program?

Occasionally, trees will be found to be dead, declining, or pose an unacceptable risk to people, vehicles, or structures. These trees may be scheduled for removal as part of this program.

Will trees be replanted?

If the site is appropriate for planting, a tree may be replanted, according to the tree planting schedule. To learn more about our tree planting program, see: planting trees on public property.

What trees are not maintained?

• Trees entirely on state or federal right-of-way. See which roads are maintained by those entities on the Arlington Roads Belonging to State/Federal Government Map
• Trees entirely on private property. Find property lines on ACMaps
• Trees maintained through a special use permit condition, such as a 4.1 Site Plan. Find Site Plans on ACMaps. If you are unsure whether a tree is maintained through a site plan, contact urbanforestry@arlingtonva.us 

Contact urbanforestry@arlingtonva.us with questions about this program. If you have an immediate tree risk issue that needs to be assessed, please use the Report a Problem tool.