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

Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 7.40 (Tree Code) establishes comprehensive protections for public trees. No person shall remove, cut, trim, prune, plant, injure, or interfere with any tree, shrub, or plant upon any street, sidewalk, parkway, alley, or other public property without first obtaining a City permit. Permits become void if work is not completed within 30 calendar days. Removal of public trees requires a request through the City's 311 system and may require approval from the Urban Forest Task Force. The Landmark Tree Program allows the Landmarks Commission to designate trees with exceptional characteristics — including those on private property — as Landmark Trees, providing additional legal protections. Santa Monica's Urban Forest Master Plan guides tree planting and maintenance citywide. The City does not have general jurisdiction over routine removal of trees on private property, but Landmark-designated private trees and trees in Coastal Zone development areas may require review. The Public Works Department maintains approximately 34,000 public trees.