Temecula, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Temecula Municipal Code Title 12, Chapter 12.16 governs trees within the public right-of-way, including parkway strips, medians, and city parks. Residents may not prune, top, or remove any city-maintained tree without authorization from the Public Works Department. Topping (cutting back to stubs) is prohibited under industry-standard ANSI A300 practices that the city follows. For private property, owners are generally free to trim trees on their own land, but trees designated as heritage or protected (notably mature coast live oaks and Engelmann oaks common in Temecula's hillsides and Old Town corridor) may require review under the city's oak tree preservation guidelines and the General Plan's Open Space/Conservation Element. Trees overhanging into a neighbor's yard may be trimmed back to the property line under California common law (Booska v. Patel), provided the trimming does not damage the tree's health. SDG&E and Southern California Edison perform line-clearance pruning per CPUC General Order 95, typically maintaining 4-10 feet from primary conductors. Residents should not trim near energized lines themselves and must call 811 before any work involving root excavation. Trimming during nesting season (Feb 1-Aug 31) requires a nesting bird survey under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and California Fish & Game Code §3503.