San Leandro has no heritage tree ordinance for private property: owners may trim or remove trees on their own land without a City permit. Street trees in the public right-of-way require an encroachment permit, and unauthorized work is fined up to $1,000.
Under San Leandro Municipal Code Chapter 5-2 (Street Trees), it is unlawful to plant, remove, prune, injure, or destroy any street tree without authorization. SLMC Section 5-2-200 establishes a fine of up to $1,000 for unauthorized work on a street tree. SLMC Section 5-2-215 allows property owners to remove or prune adjacent street trees only after obtaining an encroachment permit from the Engineering and Transportation Department (510-577-3428), using a licensed C-61/D-49 tree service contractor, and inspecting for active nests. Pruning is limited to no more than 25% of the canopy. The City maintains street trees on a zone-pruning schedule by council district (Districts 1-6, 2025-2031). For trees entirely on private property, the City Council has not adopted a heritage tree ordinance, so no City permit is required to trim or remove a tree on private land. A draft private-tree ordinance for trees 24 inches DBH or greater in front yards has been discussed since 2014 but has not been enacted.
Unauthorized planting, removal, pruning, injury, or destruction of any street tree is an infraction punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 under SLMC Section 5-2-200. The City may also require replacement-tree planting at a mandatory $210 fee per tree. Removing a street tree without grinding the stump and restoring the area to a non-tripping condition is a separate violation.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Leandro, CA
SLMC §4-1-1115 prohibits use of any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system, public address or similar device between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. when it disturbs neigh...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro is unusual among Bay Area cities: SLMC Article 11 sets only one numeric noise threshold — 5 decibels above ambient at the complainant's property ...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro does not recognize any 'dibs' or 'savie' parking custom. Public streets are public space — placing chairs, cones, garbage cans, or other objects ...
San Leandro, CA
Permitted fence/wall materials are wood, steel, finished concrete, and stucco. Chain-link and corrugated metal fencing are prohibited. Street-facing fences m...
San Leandro, CA
Retaining walls 4 feet or less measured from bottom of footing to top of wall are exempt from a building permit, unless they support a surcharge (e.g., drive...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro has no standalone hoarding statute, but SLMC §4-11-1100 caps household dogs at two and applies an Animal Permit requirement to additional animals...
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