Vallejo, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- To cut/trim/remove any street or park tree
- Clearance over street
- 16 feet minimum (trimmed to trunk)
- Clearance over sidewalk
- 10 feet minimum (trimmed to trunk)
- General intersection clearance
- 8 feet above intersection level
- Permit validity
- 30 days from issuance
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine and/or 6 months jail
Summary
Vallejo requires street and yard trees to be trimmed clear of travel paths near intersections, and separately requires a city permit to trim, prune, or remove any tree on a public street, park, or right-of-way. Trees over a street must clear 16 feet and those over a sidewalk must clear 10 feet under the visibility ordinance.
The foregoing section shall not apply to existing buildings; trees trimmed (to the trunk) to a line at least eight feet above the level of the intersection, except that trees hanging over the street must be trimmed (to the trunk) to a line at least sixteen feet above the intersection and trees hanging over the sidewalk must be trimmed (to the trunk) to a line at least ten feet above the level of the intersection; saplings; plant species of open growth habits and not planted in the form of a hedge, which are so planted and trimmed as to leave at all seasons a clear and unobstructed crossview; supporting members of appurtenances to permanent buildings existing on the date the ordinance codified in this chapter becomes effective; official traffic control devices...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Update 12 - 25).
Full Breakdown
020 exempts properly trimmed trees: trimmed to the trunk, they must clear at least eight feet above the level of the intersection generally, at least sixteen feet where limbs hang over the street, and at least ten feet where they hang over the sidewalk. 12 governs routine tree work. 040(A) makes it unlawful to cut, trim, prune, plant, remove, injure, or interfere with any tree, shrub, or ornamental plant on a city street, park, or public place without a permit from the director of public works, and any permit to cut or top a tree down to little or no foliage must first go to the beautification advisory commission for an advisory recommendation; no such permit is valid more than thirty days after issuance.
Subsection (B) carves out routine care: no permit is needed to trim or prune dead or broken limbs, cut back overgrowth that impedes use of the street, sidewalk, or lawn area, or remove sucker growth, so long as the work follows accepted horticultural standards and stays within the public right-of-way fronting the person's own property. A public utility regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission may instead obtain a one-year permit under subsection (C) to trim or remove trees encroaching on its lines. 160.
Violations & Fines
Cutting, trimming, or removing a street tree without the required Section 10.12.040 permit, or letting branches over a street or sidewalk fall below the eight-, sixteen-, or ten-foot clearance lines set by Section 10.14.020, is a misdemeanor under Section 10.12.160, punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to trim a tree on the street in front of my Vallejo home?
How high must tree branches be trimmed over a street or sidewalk?
What if I want to remove most of a tree's foliage?
What's the penalty for trimming a street tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vallejo
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How other cities in Solano County handle tree trimming.