Sacramento's strict tree canopy is protected by SMC Chapter 12.56; permits are required to prune city trees and Heritage trees above light maintenance.
Sacramento, the City of Trees, protects public and Heritage trees under SMC Chapter 12.56. Street and park trees are managed by the Urban Forestry Services section; homeowners may perform only light clearance pruning up to 0.5 inch branch diameter and must hire a certified arborist through a permit for larger work. Heritage trees (species and size thresholds listed in SMC 12.56) require a Tree Permit for pruning over 25 percent of the canopy. Violations bring a penalty plus tree-value restitution that can exceed 10,000 dollars for large specimens.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Sacramento code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
Sacramento, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle tree trimming.
See how Sacramento's tree trimming rules stack up against other locations.
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