Sanger, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Property owners in Sanger are responsible for maintaining trees on their property and in the adjacent parkway strip. The city requires that tree branches be trimmed to provide a minimum of 8 feet of vertical clearance over public sidewalks and 14 feet of clearance over public streets to allow safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles. Trees at corner lots must be trimmed to maintain sight distance triangles so drivers can see oncoming traffic and pedestrians. The city public works department manages street trees and may trim or remove parkway trees when they damage sidewalks or infrastructure. Property owners may trim parkway trees at their own expense but should not remove them without city permission. For trees on private property, no permit is generally required for routine trimming and maintenance. California Civil Code Section 3346 provides that wrongful damage to trees carries treble damages, so property owners should avoid trimming neighboring trees without consent. Sanger does not have a heritage tree ordinance, so mature trees on private property may be removed by the owner without a permit unless they are in a development project subject to environmental review.