Owners maintain trees on their own property in Petaluma; street trees and trees in the public right-of-way are managed by the city, which requires approval before pruning or removing them. Petaluma has a tree-protection ordinance for certain trees.
Petaluma splits tree duties the standard way, with one local wrinkle. Trees on your own property are yours to maintain, while street trees and anything in the public right-of-way are managed by the city — public works approval is required before pruning or removing them. The wrinkle is Petaluma's tree-protection ordinance: certain trees are protected, and work on them can require a permit even on private land. Before removing or heavily pruning a large tree, check with planning whether it's protected. For street-tree concerns, start with public works.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Petaluma, CA
Persistent dog barking in Petaluma is enforced under the noise ordinance and animal provisions as a disturbance; chronic barking that disturbs neighbors can ...
Petaluma, CA
Construction noise in Petaluma is limited to daytime hours under the noise ordinance — generally 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays with more limited weekend hours and n...
Petaluma, CA
Driveway approaches in Petaluma require an encroachment permit and must meet city standards; vehicles generally must be parked on an approved paved surface, ...
Petaluma, CA
RV, trailer and boat storage on residential lots in Petaluma is regulated by zoning, which restricts placement (typically a paved area) and prohibits living ...
Petaluma, CA
Petaluma Code §11.44.120 prohibits parking commercial vehicles in residential districts except while actively loading/unloading or performing services on pro...
Petaluma, CA
A building/zoning permit is generally required in Petaluma for fences over 6 feet or for masonry/retaining walls; pool barrier fences must meet the Californi...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sonoma County.
See how other cities in Sonoma County handle tree trimming.
See how Petaluma's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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