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

In Westminster, the right to remove a street or parkway tree rests with the City, not the adjacent owner. Trees in the parkway between the sidewalk and curb are City trees governed by the Street Forestry Policy (Municipal Code Chapter 12.12). Under that policy, no person may plant, cut, mutilate, prune, injure, or remove a street tree except as the policy provides, and anyone seeking to remove or interfere with vegetation along city streets or on city property must apply to the Director of Public Works for a permit. Section 12.12.060 (Planting and removal of street trees) provides that the Director plants, removes, regulates, and controls right-of-way vegetation and sets species, spacing, and planting method; trees may not be planted closer than twenty feet to another tree, utility pole, or light standard, or closer than ten feet to a sewer lateral, driveway, fire hydrant, water meter, or gas meter. Where trees not on the official street tree list are damaging or potentially damaging public infrastructure, the City contacts the adjacent owner and may remove the unacceptable tree and replace it with a suitable designated street tree. The City's Parks/Trees Division carries out street-tree maintenance, removal, and replacement. For private-property trees that are not in the right-of-way, the Municipal Code does not impose a citywide removal-permit scheme, but the nuisance rules (Chapter 8.20) still apply to dead, diseased, or hazardous trees. Contact Public Works at (714) 895-2876.