Gardena, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit authority
- Public Works Director
- Tree defined as
- 15+ ft mature height or 4-inch trunk
- Permit fee
- Set by city council resolution
- Appeal path
- Chapter 1.12 for permit denial
- Damage penalty
- Full tree replacement cost (§13.60.160)
- Owner duty
- Keep frontage trees from endangering sidewalk
Summary
In the City of Gardena, no one may cut, trim, prune, or otherwise interfere with a tree, shrub, or plant on a street or public place without a Tree Trimming Permit from the Public Works Director under Gardena Municipal Code § 13.60.080. Property owners must also keep trees and hedges along their frontage from endangering the sidewalk or parkway.
§ 13.60.080. Permit. ... B. No person, firm, or corporation, including utility companies, shall cut, trim, prune, plant, remove, injure or interfere with any Tree, shrub or plant upon any Street or Public Place of the City without a permit issued by the Director ... § 13.60.125. Nuisance trees – Property owner's duty to public. The owner of a lot fronting on or adjacent to any portion of a street shall maintain any trees, shrubs, hedges or other landscaping along said street or within the street right-of-way adjacent to his or her property in such condition that the sidewalk and parkway will not endanger persons or property.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 13.60 gives the Public Works Director authority over the selection, planting, pruning, maintenance, and removal of every Street Tree, defined as a woody perennial with an expected mature height of 15 feet or more or an existing trunk diameter of 4 inches or more (§ 13.60.020, § 13.60.030). Under § 13.60.080(B), no person, firm, or corporation, including utility companies, may cut, trim, prune, plant, remove, injure, or interfere with a tree, shrub, or plant on a street or public place without a permit issued by the Director, though a utility performing emergency work on its own pole or line may proceed first and apply for a retroactive permit the next business day.
The Director sets permit fees by council resolution and can impose conditions to fulfill the chapter's purpose (§ 13.60.080(A), (C)); a permit denial, suspension, or revocation can be appealed under Chapter 1.12 (§ 13.60.100). Separately, § 13.60.125 requires the owner of a lot fronting or adjacent to a street to maintain trees, shrubs, and hedges along that frontage or within the right-of-way so that the sidewalk and parkway stay safe, and makes an owner who fails to abate a dangerous tree liable for resulting injuries or damage, unless the hazard comes from a city-owned Street Tree.
A tree that overhangs or interferes with a street's use, or blocks visibility, meets the chapter's definition of a Nuisance Tree and is abated under Chapter 8.64 (§ 13.60.120).
Violations & Fines
Trimming or removing a street tree without a Director-issued permit, or failing to keep frontage trees, hedges, and landscaping from endangering the sidewalk or parkway, violates Chapter 13.60. Section 13.60.160 makes anyone whose violation causes damage or death to a Street Tree responsible for the full replacement cost, calculated using Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers guidelines, in addition to any misdemeanor or infraction penalty under the city's general penalty section, § 1.16.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to trim a street tree in Gardena?
Who is responsible for keeping trees near a Gardena sidewalk trimmed and safe?
What happens if a tree is damaged or killed during unauthorized trimming in Gardena?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gardena
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