--- title: How High Should Branches Be Raised Over a Driveway or Roof? url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/how-high-to-raise-branches-over-a-driveway-or-roof/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - [Questions and answers](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/) - [Pruning and trimming](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/) - How high should branches be raised over a driveway or roof? # How high should branches be raised over a driveway or roof? Branches should be raised high enough that vehicles, ladders and people pass without touching them, and branches should not overhang or rub the roof. We do not have a sourced number of feet for a private driveway, so the arborist sets it at the estimate; the firm rules apply on public streets and near wires. ## Over a roof Branches that touch a roof scrape shingles, drop needles and leaves into gutters, and carry fire to the house in a wildfire. UNR Extension's Living With Fire guide treats the first five feet around a house, Zone 0, as the ember-resistant zone, and it advises keeping evergreen woody plants at least 30 feet from the house. Branches overhanging a roof are part of that picture. See [what is defensible space](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-is-defensible-space/). Lifting a crown away from a roof is called raising or limbing up. Dead wood over a roof comes first, then the live limbs. ## Over a driveway For your own driveway, the question is the tallest thing that must pass: a delivery truck, a moving van, a RV. We cannot state a one-size height because the standard depends on what uses the driveway. The honest answer is to tell the arborist the vehicle, and the cut will be planned from that. Removing too many lower limbs at once is its own problem; see [how much of a tree can be pruned at once](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/how-much-of-a-tree-can-be-pruned-at-once/). ## Over a street, sidewalk or wires Public right-of-way is a different case. In Reno, work in City rights-of-way needs a Tree Work Permit and a Certified Arborist. In Carson City, check with Public Works for trees in the right-of-way. We do not quote a clearance height for streets because we did not find one we can cite. Branches near power lines are not a do-it-yourself job: NV Energy handles its own primary lines, the service drop to a house is the owner's responsibility, and unqualified people must stay 10 feet from lines up to 50 kV. See [utility and structure clearance](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/utility-structure-clearance/). ## Next step Walk the spot with the arborist and point out what must clear. The estimate is free at [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). ### Sources - [University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Living With Fire (SP-23-07)](https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=5522) (read October 1, 2026) - [NV Energy: Tree trimming near power lines](https://www.nvenergy.com/tree) (read October 17, 2026) - [City of Reno: Urban Forestry tree FAQs](https://www.reno.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/urban-forestry/tree-faqs) (read October 1, 2026) - [NV Energy: Overhead Power Line Safety brochure ("Be Safe. Be Legal.", NRS 455.200-455.240)](https://www.nvenergy.com/publish/content/dam/nvenergy/brochures_arch/help/brochures/overhead_line_safety.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [Pruning and trimming questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/) - [Ladder fuels and limbing up](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/ladder-fuels-limbing-up/) - [Utility and structure clearance](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/utility-structure-clearance/) - [Crown thinning, raising and reduction: what each means](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/crown-thinning-raising-reduction/) - [What is defensible space? Zones 0, 1 and 2](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-is-defensible-space/) ### Terms on this page [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/) [Right-of-way](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/right-of-way/) [The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/) ### All pruning and trimming questions - [Pruning and trimming questions](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/) ## Related pruning and trimming questions [Can trees be pruned in summer?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/can-trees-be-pruned-in-summer/) [Why are water sprouts growing after pruning?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/why-water-sprouts-grow-after-pruning/) [Does pruning help a tree get through a drought?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/does-pruning-help-a-tree-in-a-drought/) [When should maples be pruned in Northern Nevada?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/when-to-prune-maples/) [When should elms be pruned in Northern Nevada?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/when-to-prune-elms/) [When should birch trees be pruned?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/when-to-prune-birch/) [Previous question: Why are water sprouts growing after pruning?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/why-water-sprouts-grow-after-pruning/) [Next question: Does pruning help a tree get through a drought?](https://battleborntreeservice.com/faq/pruning-and-trimming/does-pruning-help-a-tree-in-a-drought/)