Fairfield, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Under Fairfield Municipal Code Chapter 21 (Trees and Shrubs), it is unlawful for any person other than the owner (or someone the owner authorizes) to injure, prune, disfigure, or destroy any tree within the city, whether the tree is on private ground, on a street, sidewalk, public easement, or in a public park. The Public Works Department has primary responsibility for managing public trees (street trees, park trees, and trees on other city-owned property) and must approve any work on those trees. Section 25.36 (Tree Conservation) regulates 'protected trees,' which include all trees on public property, trees required by the City as a condition of project approval, and certain species on undeveloped private property that exceed six inches in caliper at breast height (4.5 feet above grade). Heavy pruning of protected trees that removes a substantial portion of the canopy (often interpreted as more than 25 percent) is treated as removal and requires a permit, with replanting at one inch for every inch removed when authorized, or three inches for every inch removed when done without authorization. Light maintenance pruning of trees on the owner's own private property that are not protected does not require a permit.