Westminster, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

070(A) puts street tree maintenance in the hands of the public works department, which plants, maintains, and removes all official street trees along city streets, giving them priority for care over unofficial interim trees. The section sets a concrete clearance standard: trees planted along city streets 'shall be pruned to give a clearance of not less than twelve feet over sidewalks and not less than sixteen feet over streets, as the size of the tree permits,' and pruning must follow the American National Standard for Tree Care Operations (ANSI A300-1995) and the Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture pruning standards.

020, is generally prohibited except in special cases such as where a potential threat to persons or property exists. 080 restricts private maintenance work on any street tree to watering and fertilizing only; any other pruning or maintenance requires the director's prior written consent and a determination that the person performing the work is qualified, except in emergencies. 070(A) states they will not receive routine maintenance and will only be removed if the director determines they pose a hazard or public nuisance.