Elk Grove, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk clearance
- 10 feet minimum
- Street clearance
- 13 feet minimum
- Who maintains
- Property owner
- Cure period after notice
- 30 days
- Nonpayment remedy
- Property lien
- Landmark/street tree work
- Needs Ch. 19.12 tree permit
Summary
Elk Grove requires tree limbs to stay clear of the public right-of-way: at least 10 feet above sidewalks and 13 feet above streets, under Municipal Code Section 23.54.070(D). Property owners maintain their own landscaping under subsection (A), and if maintenance lapses the City can step in and lien the property after a 30-day notice period runs under subsection (B).
The owners of all landscaped property shall be responsible for the proper maintenance of the landscaping and irrigation systems. ... If landscaping is not being properly maintained, the property owner shall be notified by the City. If after thirty (30) days from the City's notification the landscaping is still not being maintained, then the City may perform any type of maintenance necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter, the cost of which will be considered a lien on the property until paid in full by the property owner, tenant or their agent, if any. ... Tree Pruning and Shrub Maintenance. Trees and shrubs shall not overhang or encroach upon walkways, drives, parking areas, and traffic signs to the extent that they interfere with the use of these areas. Tree limbs which overhang public sidewalks shall be kept trimmed to a height of at least ten (10' 0") feet above the sidewalk level. Tree limbs which overhang the street shall be kept trimmed to a height of at least thirteen (13' 0") feet above the street level.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937385; v2 updated 2026-05-13; through 05-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
070 puts day-to-day upkeep, including tree and shrub pruning, squarely on whoever owns the landscaped property under subsection (A). The clearance standard in subsection (D) is specific: branches over a sidewalk must clear at least 10 feet, and branches over a street must clear at least 13 feet, because overhanging limbs that interfere with walkways, drives, parking areas, or traffic signs are treated as a maintenance failure. If a City inspector finds a tree or shrub out of compliance, subsection (B) requires written notice to the owner first, with 30 days to correct it before crews step in; if the City ends up doing the pruning, the cost becomes a lien on the property until the owner, tenant, or their agent pays it in full.
070 before it can be topped, removed, relocated, or worked on within its critical root zone, even for a clearance fix. The Community Development Department administers both chapters, so a homeowner unsure which standard applies should confirm a tree's protected status before cutting.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep limbs clear of the sidewalk or street triggers a City notice under Section 23.54.070(B); if the encroachment is not corrected within 30 days, City crews can prune the tree or shrub themselves and record the cost as a lien on the property, ahead of any citation. Removing or topping a landmark, local-importance, secured, or right-of-way tree without the Chapter 19.12 permit is a separate violation of that chapter's permit requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must tree branches be trimmed over an Elk Grove sidewalk?
Who is responsible for trimming trees on my property?
Can the City remove or prune my street tree without asking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Elk Grove
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