Historic Charleston Foundation's work to preserve Charleston’s historic neighborhoods encompasses safeguarding the built and natural historic character that defines our community – including mature trees.
These living assets face significant threats during Dominion Energy’s periodic vegetation management cycles, which are intended to maintain a safe and reliable electrical grid. While we recognize the importance of infrastructure safety, we are deeply concerned about the lack of transparency, limited community input, and the negative impacts of excessive pruning on Charleston’s treasured tree canopy.
As part of our commitment to protecting Charleston’s historic fabric, we are actively reviewing Dominion Energy’s vegetation management practices and exploring long-term solutions, such as undergrounding electrical lines. This is to reduce the need for aggressive tree pruning and better preserve the health and heritage of Charleston’s neighborhoods.
We invite community members to share their experiences and perspectives:
Your observations, photographs, and comments are invaluable and will inform our advocacy efforts, enabling us to represent the community effectively to the City of Charleston, Dominion Energy, and relevant regulatory authorities.
The City of Charleston has a franchise agreement with Dominion Energy. This agreement allows Dominion to conduct utility work, including vegetation management, within city limits under certain guidelines and oversight.
In June 2019, the city passed a Tree Protection Agreement that outlines standards to be used by Dominion Energy when trimming trees.
Pruning shall be done by a qualified tree service and performed using the National Arborist Association’s Pruning Standards for Shade Trees.
Yes, under certain conditions outlined in the City’s Zoning Code, section 54-326 (G). Dominion Energy is exempt if they agree to the following: (1) Recognize the need to minimize cutting and trimming of grand trees; (2) Establish design guidelines for construction and maintenance; and (3) Allow for a consultation process to the city. Failure to execute the agreement is a violation of the ordinance. To read the ordinance in its entirety, visit here.
Dominion uses a method called “directional pruning” to guide tree growth away from power lines. This technique involves trimming branches in a “V” or “L” shape around utility lines. All pruning near power lines must comply with ANSI-A300 standards, which are industry-recognized best practices for tree care.
Tree trimming is performed on a continuous 5-year cycle, meaning Dominion typically services each neighborhood once every five years.
Tree trimming work contracted by Dominion is currently carried out by Xylem Tree Experts, a company trained in utility vegetation management.
If you'd like to talk to someone about the trees in your yard, you can call Dominion Energy at 1-800-251-7234 and place a work order to have an arborist come assess your trees before they're trimmed.
Undergrounding refers to relocating overhead utility lines below ground. This improves storm resilience, eliminates tree trimming needs, and enhances visual aesthetics.
The following areas have completed underground utility installations:
— Crescent Neighborhood
— Headquarters Island Plantation Neighborhood
— King Street
— Orange Street Neighborhood
— Country Club Neighborhood
— Country Club Neighborhood II
Initial petitions for undergrounding have been received from:
1. Ansonborough
2. Wappoo Heights
3. South Battery, Tradd Street and part of Legare Street
4. Old Windermere
5. South Windermere
6. A section of Clifford Street
Typically, undergrounding starts with a neighborhood petition or city designation. Once approved, a feasibility study is conducted, followed by engineering, permitting, cost allocation, and construction.
The cost is typically shared between the city, the utility company, and the property owners.
As we continue to explore these topics, we aim for this webpage to be a helpful resource for the community to better understand the issue. We will update this page as new information becomes available. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to HCF's advocacy team, contact details are included below.
Director of Advocacy, Lisa Jones
(843) 329-4601 | ljones@historiccharleston.org
Preservation Planner, Kate Dutilly
(843) 720-1190 | kdutilly@historiccharleston.org
