Tree trimming in the City of Napa is governed by Chapter 12.44 (Public Trees and Plants) for street and city trees and Chapter 12.45 (Trees on Private Property) for Protected Native Trees and Significant Trees. Pruning a Protected Native Tree branch larger than four inches in diameter, or removing more than 10% of live foliage in any one-year period, requires a permit from the Director of Parks and Recreation Services. Street-tree pruning requires a permit from Parks and Recreation Services at 1500 Jefferson Street. California follows common-law self-help for trimming a neighbor's overhanging branches to the property line.
Tree-trimming authority in Napa is split between Chapter 12.44 (Public Trees and Plants) (https://ecode360.com/43393062) and Chapter 12.45 (Trees on Private Property) (https://ecode360.com/43393111). Under Chapter 12.45, a Protected Native Tree is one of seven listed native species (Valley Oak, Coast Live Oak, Black Oak, California Bay, Black Walnut at 12-inch DBH; Blue Oak at 6-inch DBH; Coast Redwood at 36-inch DBH) on private property over one acre zoned residential or agricultural, or on any property zoned commercial or industrial. For a Protected Native Tree, no person may, without a permit from the Director, prune any branch or limb larger than four inches in diameter, remove more than 10% of live foliage in any one-year period, cut any root over two inches in diameter within the drip line, change grade elevations within the drip line by more than two feet, or allow oil, fuel, concrete mix, or other injurious substances to enter the drip-line area. Routine trimming of a non-protected tree on a private lot (for example, a fruit tree, ornamental, or any tree on a residential lot of one acre or smaller in a residential zone) generally does not require a Napa permit. Street trees in the public right-of-way are managed by the Parks and Recreation Services Department (1500 Jefferson Street, 707-257-9529); property owners may maintain adjacent street trees with a permit from Parks and Recreation. Utility-line clearance pruning by PG&E is performed under California PUC General Order 95 and recorded easement rights. Under California common law (Booska v. Patel), an adjoining owner may trim a neighbor's overhanging branches up to the property line, but trimming that damages or kills the tree exposes the trimmer to civil liability. Napa is a Tree City USA participant.
Pruning a Protected Native Tree beyond Chapter 12.45 limits (over four-inch branches or over 10% foliage) without a permit is enforceable as a Code violation, with administrative citation, restitution measured by ISA tree-appraisal methodology, and required mitigation including replacement plantings at 2 trees per 6 inches of trunk diameter under the chapter's Replacement Program. Damaging a street tree without a Chapter 12.44 permit may trigger restitution for the appraised tree value and standard code-violation penalties. Improper self-help trimming that damages a neighbor's tree exposes the trimmer to civil liability under California common law.
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