Antioch, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Antioch's tree rules sit in Title 9, Chapter 5, Article 12 (Tree Preservation and Regulation) of the Antioch Municipal Code, sections 9-5.1201 through 9-5.1212. Section 9-5.1210 controls where private trees may be planted and how high they must be kept trimmed: trees on private property outside the city right-of-way must be set back at least five feet from the sidewalk, with branches trimmed to clear the sidewalk by at least seven feet and the street travel lane by at least fourteen feet. The ordinance also defines three regulated tree classes: an 'Established Tree' is any tree at least ten inches in diameter measured 4.5 feet above grade; a 'Mature Tree' is at least twenty-six inches in diameter; and a 'Landmark Tree' is at least forty-eight inches in diameter or over forty feet tall. Removing any of these trees on developed property requires a Tree Removal Permit application reviewed by the City's Tree Committee under § 9-5.1203, which weighs tree health, proximity to structures, and likelihood of damage to utilities. The article was first adopted as Ordinance 897-C-S in 1994 and amended by Ordinance 926-C-S in 1996.