Paramount, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Section 12.32.040 of the Paramount Municipal Code is the City's tree removal rule. Subsection A states that no person shall remove, cut, trim, or prune, injure or interfere with any parkway tree, public right-of-way tree, or park tree. Section 12.32.010 defines the terms. Parkway trees are trees planted in residential or commercial areas between the curb and the sidewalk. Public right-of-way trees are trees on major arterial and secondary roadways that are the City's responsibility. Park trees are trees in public parks having individual names, or to which the public has free access as a park. The section prints no permit path for a resident to take down one of these trees.

Subsection B gives the removal power to the City representative, who is the City's Public Works Director or designee under Section 12.32.020. The City representative can cause the removal of any tree or part of a tree that is in an unsafe condition, that by its nature is damaging to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvements, or that is affected with any fungus, disease, insect or other pest.

Section 12.32.030 allocates care. The Public Works Department or its contractors maintain public right-of-way and park trees. The owner of private property in a residential zone with a parkway tree must provide adequate water to it, notify Public Works of suspected hazards or maintenance needs, and landscape and maintain the parkway adjacent to the property. Pruning follows ANSI A300 Standards, and the City has the right to prune any tree on private property that encroaches on the public right-of-way after written notice to the owner. Topping any public right-of-way, park or parkway tree is unlawful under subsection E, except that the City representative has sole discretion to allow it for storm-damaged trees or trees under utility wires.