Contra Costa County, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Species/location approval
- Required from Public Works, § 98-10.004
- Separate permit required
- Encroachment permit, § 98-10.006
- First-offense fine
- $100 infraction
- Repeat fines
- $200, then $500 within a year
- Permit start deadline
- Work must begin within 90 days
- Applies only in
- Unincorporated Contra Costa County
Summary
In unincorporated Contra Costa County, planting a tree along a public street requires the species and exact planting location to be approved in advance by the Public Works Department, plus a separate encroachment permit before anyone digs or plants in the right-of-way. Trees that block sight lines or overhang the pavement must be removed or trimmed to clear the hazard.
98-10.004 - Approval of species and planting. Trees to be planted along the street within the right-of-way shall be of such species and be planted in such locations as may be approved by the public works department. (Ord. 78-5).
98-10.006 - Encroachment permit. An encroachment permit shall be obtained from the public works department for street tree planting. (Ord. 78-5).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Ordinance Code: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
Ordinance Code Chapter 98-10, Street Trees, governs parkway plantings countywide in the unincorporated area. 004 requires that any tree planted along a street within the right-of-way be of a species and in a location approved by the Public Works Department before it goes in the ground. 006 layers on a second requirement: an encroachment permit from Public Works specifically for the planting. 002 separately requires removal or trimming of any tree that conflicts with grading or utilities or overhangs the sidewalk or pavement so as to create a nuisance or hazard. 020). 014). 018).
Violations & Fines
Planting a street tree without the required Public Works species/location approval and encroachment permit is enforced as a code infraction under Sections 14-8.002 and 14-8.004: $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within one year, and $500 for each further violation within that year. The county may instead charge it as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in county jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The Public Works Director may also summarily remove the unpermitted tree as an unlawful encroachment under Section 1002-2.018.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the parkway strip in unincorporated Contra Costa County?
What happens if I plant a street tree without approval?
Does the county remove trees that block the sidewalk?
Does this street-tree rule apply inside cities like Walnut Creek or Concord?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Contra Costa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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