Petaluma, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Pedestrian clearance
- Minimum 8 ft above sidewalk
- Vehicular clearance
- Minimum 13 ft above curb
- Governing section
- PMC § 13.10.010
- Who maintains
- Owner of the fronting/adjacent lot
- Liability
- Owner liable for injuries from unmaintained trees
Summary
Petaluma property owners must keep street trees, shrubs and hedges along their frontage trimmed to a minimum eight-foot vertical clearance over sidewalks and thirteen feet over the street, under Petaluma Municipal Code Section 13.10.010. An owner who lets landscaping block that clearance and cause an injury is liable for the resulting damage.
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 nondangerous condition that the trees, shrubs, hedges or other landscaping will not interfere with the public convenience or safety in the use of the streets and sidewalks. Said owners shall maintain such street trees so that there is a minimum eight-foot vertical pedestrian clearance from the top of the sidewalk and a minimum thirteen-foot vertical vehicular clearance from the top of the curb, to any part of a street tree.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2931 NCS, passed July 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010 puts the duty to maintain street trees, shrubs, hedges and other landscaping along a frontage, or within the adjacent street right-of-way, on the owner of the fronting or adjacent lot. The maintenance duty is defined broadly to include deep root watering, root pruning, installing root barriers, clearance and structural trimming, fertilizing, pest control, and removing branches, leaves and other debris. The specific clearance numbers are set out in subsection A: a minimum eight-foot vertical pedestrian clearance measured from the top of the sidewalk, and a minimum thirteen-foot vertical vehicular clearance measured from the top of the curb, to any part of a street tree.
Subsection C turns that maintenance duty into an owed duty to the public: owners must keep the trees, shrubs, hedges and landscaping in a safe, nondangerous condition for people using the public streets and sidewalks, in compliance with the city's adopted pruning guidelines. 040 separately allows the city to declare it a nuisance and order it removed or trimmed at the owner's cost. 060 as long as it follows the city's pruning guidelines.
Violations & Fines
Under Section 13.10.010(D), if a fronting or adjacent property owner fails to keep a street tree trimmed to the required clearance and a member of the public is injured or suffers property damage as a result, the owner is liable for all resulting damages and injuries. A tree that becomes a hazard to street, utility or sidewalk use is also a public nuisance the city can order removed or trimmed at the owner's expense under Section 13.08.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much clearance must a Petaluma street tree have over the sidewalk?
Who is responsible for trimming a street tree in front of my house?
Am I liable if a low tree branch injures someone on the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Petaluma
California rules heatmap·Compare Petaluma to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle tree trimming.