Tom, the topic of city laws and ordinances is a good one, lets just hope the trench knives stay sheaved, and the Mein Kampf references get canned this time around.

Your example of an ordinance against planting a tree in your yard, was a good example of stupid city ordinances, but we must take the bad with the good. If you don't want that city ordinance you can campaign against it, and against any city council members who voted for it, but being against city ordinances in general is an extreme overcorrection IMO.

There are many good laws in place that protect the citizens from other citizens stupidity. In most cities you can't build a fence over 4' high next to a sidewalk or curb on a corner of a busy street. The reason is because it blocks visibility of oncoming traffic, and traffic must inch forward in the way of oncoming traffic in order to see it. There is a homeowner in my hometown who did just that. I am assuming we have a city ordinace against such fences, but haven't had the time to check. If so I am all for forcing him to taper his fence down to the 4' level to meet the ordinance (if it is one). If it isn't one I would definitely vote fot it.

Building codes serve a very good purpose in our cities. I am convinced buildings would not have adequate fire protection or exits if left to the owner to decide what was best. That would put the occupants of the structure at extreme risk in case of fire or other emergency. No amount of reparations or forcing the owner out of business will undo his reckless endangerment. People are dead.

So I stand behind our codes, even though they are a pain to understand. Anyone who has designed buildings (me) for a living knows how hard it is to read the code books and meet all ordinances, but the benefits belong to all.