Hayward, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Over street
- 14 ft clearance
- Over sidewalk
- 8 ft clearance
- From chimney
- 10 ft (VHFHSZ)
- Ladder fuel
- Remove to 6 ft
- Permit
- Not required, private
Summary
Hayward requires 14 feet of vertical clearance over streets and 8 feet over sidewalks. Hillside homes must clear branches 10 feet from chimneys.
(1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire would be unlikely to ignite the structure. This subparagraph does not apply to single specimens of trees or other vegetation that are well-pruned and maintained so as to effectively manage fuels and not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from other nearby vegetation to a structure or from a structure to other n
Full Breakdown
Hayward Municipal Code requires property owners to trim trees and vegetation so that branches do not obstruct public streets, sidewalks, streetlights, or traffic signs. Minimum clearances are 14 feet above roadways, 13 feet above alleys, and 8 feet above sidewalks and pedestrian paths. Branches obscuring stop signs or streetlights must be removed promptly. In the VHFHSZ, Public Resources Code 4291 requires tree limbs to be kept at least 10 feet from chimney or stovepipe outlets, and ladder fuels (low branches that carry fire from ground to canopy) must be removed up to 6 feet from the ground or one-third the tree height, whichever is less. PG and E also requires utility line clearances of 4 to 10 feet depending on voltage. Routine maintenance does not require a permit on private trees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trim my neighbor's tree on my side?
Does PG and E trim for free?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hayward
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How other cities in Alameda County handle tree trimming.