Long Beach, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance over sidewalks
- 12 feet minimum, § 14.28.030(B)
- Clearance over streets
- 16 feet minimum
- Private trimming
- Requires Director's written approval
- Open ground around trunk
- 18 inches minimum, § 14.28.070
- Minimum planting strip width
- 30 inches (24" with approval)
Summary
Long Beach's Public Works Department prunes City street trees to a minimum twelve-foot clearance over sidewalks and sixteen feet over streets, and no one else may trim, cut or remove a tree planted along a City street without a written permit from the Director of Public Works.
A. The Public Works Department will, except for watering and fertilizing, maintain, plant and remove all recommended trees planted along City streets. Trees planted along walks, lanes, or on City property, other than a public street right-of-way, will be maintained by the Public Works Department according to their classification, except that trees planted along alleys will not be maintained but will be removed when such trees are determined by the Director of Public Works to be a hazard or a public nuisance. B. Trees planted along City streets shall be pruned to give a clearance of not less than twelve feet (12') over sidewalks and not less than sixteen feet (16') over streets as the size of the tree permits.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
030(A) makes the Public Works Department responsible for maintaining, planting and removing all recommended trees planted along City streets, except for watering and fertilizing; trees along walks, lanes or other City property are maintained by classification, though alley trees are only removed, not maintained, once the Director determines they're a hazard or nuisance. 030(B) sets the operative clearance standard: street trees must be pruned to give at least twelve feet of clearance over sidewalks and at least sixteen feet over streets, as the size of the tree allows.
060 separately requires a permit from the Director before any person may plant, cut, trim, prune, remove, or otherwise interfere with the natural growth of a tree planted along City streets or on other City property. 020 bars new trees within twenty-five feet of another tree, fifteen feet of a utility pole or light standard, five feet of a fire hydrant, water or gas meter, or twenty feet of a street-intersection curb radius, and requires at least a 30-inch planting strip between sidewalk and curb (24 inches for Director-approved recommended species). 070 requires at least 18 inches of open, unpaved ground around a street tree's trunk to let water and air reach the roots.
Violations & Fines
Trimming, cutting, pruning or removing a City street tree without the Director of Public Works' written approval violates § 14.28.040 and § 14.28.060's permit requirements, and covering the required 18-inch open ground area around a trunk with concrete or other impervious material violates § 14.28.070. The Code directs enforcement to the Director of Public Works, who may require special maintenance to be performed under Public Works Department supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Long Beach resident trim a City street tree themselves?
How much clearance must a Long Beach street tree have over the sidewalk?
How close to a fire hydrant can a tree be planted in Long Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
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