San Bernardino, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Sidewalk clearance
- Minimum 8 ft vertical clearance over sidewalks
- Street clearance
- Minimum 14 ft vertical clearance over public streets
- VHFHSZ pruning
- Limbs 6 ft off ground and 10 ft canopy separation under PRC 4291
- Chimney rule
- No branches within 10 ft of a chimney outlet
- Protected trees
- Permit required to remove designated heritage trees
Summary
San Bernardino owners must keep trees trimmed for sidewalk and street clearance, and in foothill fire zones limbs must be at least six feet above ground and canopies 10 feet apart under PRC 4291.
4291. (a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary shall consider the flammability of the structure as affected by building material, building standards, location, and type of vegetation. Fuels shall be maintained and spaced in a condition so that a wildfire would be unlikely to ignite the structure. [...] The intensity of fuels management may vary within the 100-foot perimeter of the structure, with more intense fuel reductions being utilized between 5 and 30 feet around the structure, and an ember-resistant zone being required within 5 feet of the structure [...]. (2) Remove that portion of a tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe. (3) Maintain a tree, shrub, or other plant adjacent to or overhanging a building free of dead or dying wood. (4) Maintain the roof of a structure free of leaves, needles, or other vegetative materials.
Full Breakdown
Tree maintenance on private property in San Bernardino is regulated by a combination of the San Bernardino Municipal Code right-of-way standards, the California Streets and Highways Code, and state wildfire defensible space law. Under typical municipal standards, property owners must trim trees and shrubs that overhang public sidewalks to maintain at least eight feet of vertical clearance for pedestrians, and overhangs above public streets must provide at least 14 feet of clearance for vehicles and emergency apparatus. Branches that obstruct stop signs, streetlights, traffic signals, sightlines at intersections, or ADA curb ramps must be pruned promptly upon notice from the city.
Dead, diseased, or dangerous limbs overhanging neighboring property or the public right-of-way are a nuisance and the owner is liable for damage if they fall. In foothill Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, California PRC 4291 requires tree limbs to be trimmed at least six feet off the ground, tree canopies to be separated by at least 10 feet horizontally, and all limbs within 10 feet of a chimney outlet removed. Trees larger than a specified trunk diameter on private property may also be designated heritage or protected trees under the city landscape ordinance, and removal or major pruning requires a permit.
Certified arborists are recommended for significant work, and utility clearance pruning near SCE power lines must follow the power line clearance rules in PRC 4293.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to trim branches hanging over the sidewalk?
How high must I limb trees in the foothills?
Can I cut my neighbor tree branches that cross my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
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Tree Trimming in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle tree trimming.