Landscaping Rules in San Rafael, CA (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
San Rafael places the duty to trim sidewalk trees and hedges directly on the adjoining property owner or occupant, not the city, so growth does not block pedestrians. If an owner ignores a ten-day written notice from the superintendent of streets, the city does the trimming itself and puts the cost on the property as a lien collected with the owner's taxes.
San Rafael Sidewalk Tree Trimming Duty
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code §§ 8.12.120, 9.12.050
Any owner or occupant of a building lot or premises shall keep all sidewalk trees and hedges properly trimmed in such a manner that the same shall not interfere with the free use of sidewalks. ... Whenever the owner or occupant of any property in the city fails to remove grass, weeds, poison oak, tin cans, ashes or any other refuse as provided in this chapter, or to trim trees or hedges as prov...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
New subdivisions in San Rafael must plant street trees on every new public or private street to city and public works specifications under SRMC §15.06.100: a subdivision-improvement rule, not a private tree-removal permit ordinance.
San Rafael Street Tree Planting Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 15.06.100
Street trees shall be required on all new public or private streets proposed to serve a new subdivision. Unless selected from a city-approved street tree list, the species, spacing and placement of street trees shall be approved by the department of community development and the public works department. All street trees shall be installed at a minimum size of twenty-four inch (24″) box with a t...
Weed Ordinances
San Rafael Municipal Code Section 9.12.040 bars any owner, agent or lessee with control of a lot in the city from letting weeds, mustard, thistles, indigenous grasses, poison oak or other noxious trees or brush grow or remain, including on the sidewalk strip between the lot and the curb. Refuse to clear it after notice and the city does the work and bills you.
San Rafael Weed Abatement Ordinance
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code §§ 9.12.040, 9.12.050
9.12.040 - Maintenance of weeds and other deleterious growth prohibited. No owner, agent, lessee or other person having charge or control of any lot within the city shall suffer, allow, or permit any weeds, mustard, thistles or any indigenous grasses, poison oak or other noxious trees or brush to grow or remain thereon nor upon the sidewalk area between said lot and the curb line. (Ords. 56 and...
Native Plants
Within the wetland setback of San Rafael's Wetland Overlay District, landscaping and vegetation must be native plant species indigenous to the area, chosen to protect habitat for present wildlife: a narrower rule than a citywide native-plant mandate.
San Rafael Wetland Native Plant Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Rafael Municipal Code § 14.13.040(D)
Landscaping and Vegetation within Wetland Setback. Landscaping and vegetation installed within the wetland setback shall be native plant species that are indigenous to the area and selected to enhance and/or protect habitat for the present wildlife species.
Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Marin County →