Chino Hills, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Chino Hills draws a clear line between private trees and public trees. For private property, a tree-removal permit is not required simply to prune a tree, including a protected native tree; however, all pruning of protected trees must follow the tree-pruning standards of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). For parkway trees (those between sidewalk and curb) and other trees in the public right-of-way or City open space, only the City may trim or remove them. Per CHMC Chapter 12.24 (Encroachments), residents may not prune, spray, trim, or remove any existing plant material within the public open space, and CHMC Section 12.26.100 prohibits cutting, breaking, defacing, or damaging a City tree in any manner whatsoever. The City emphasizes that public trees are not trimmed for reasons such as leaf litter, view protection, or personal preference; City-certified arborists trim based on tree health, location, and species needs following ISA standards. This is a city-specific framework that is stricter than relying only on county or state defaults, particularly the prohibition on residents touching parkway trees.