Novato, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Novato Municipal Code § 17-3.7(a) puts the care of trees along public rights-of-way on the property owner. The owner provides adequate water for street trees and shrubs, does the root trimming needed to maintain the public right-of-way, and maintains trees and shrubs on the owner's own property that project over or under the right-of-way, roots included. No tree or shrub the person is responsible for can restrict access or impede use of the right-of-way, including use by the city street sweeper. Clearance over any public right-of-way cannot drop below eight feet, and no part of the tree can appear dead, liable to fall, dangerous or an obstruction to the public.

Intersections get a stricter rule. Section 17-3.8 lets the city engineer require, within 50 feet of an intersection measured from the intersection of the right-of-way lines, that tree branches less than eight feet from the ground be removed and hedges or shrubs be limited to three feet in height, wherever they obstruct the view of a driver approaching the intersection.

Who does the cutting matters. Under § 17-3.6, only the community development director or an authorized agent can cut, trim, prune, spray, brace, plant, move, remove or replace a street tree or shrub unless the director first issues a written permit. The application describes the work, location, trees involved and reasons, and the director approves or rejects it and can impose conditions. An encroachment permit under section 15-2 is also required for work in the public right-of-way. Utilities can trim street trees under § 17-3.5 only through a licensed City of Novato tree business and subject to ISA pruning standards.

The public works director can inspect private trees that overhang a right-of-way under § 17-3.9. If the city engineer finds a public nuisance, § 17-3.11 requires written notice by first class mail to the owner on the county assessor's roll, with a copy to any occupant, stating the work needed and a reasonable deadline. The owner has ten days from mailing to appeal in writing to the city council through the city clerk. If the work is not done, the city abates it and, under § 17-3.13, the cost is billed and unpaid amounts become a lien collected like city taxes, reported to the county auditor before August 1 of each year.