Cathedral City, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Section 14.16.440 of the Cathedral City Municipal Code is the parkway planting rule. Any person can plant and maintain a lawn of any grass, or type not prohibited by other law, within the right-of-way of a public street without a permit. Three limits apply. The lawn cannot extend into the traveled way of any public street or into drainage ditches, gutters or other drainage facilities. The general public cannot be denied use of the planted area for pedestrian or other lawful travel. And the city can use the planted area for any purpose and issue a permit to others to work there, in which case the permittee must remove and replace any lawn damaged or disturbed, unless the permit states otherwise. The section prints no species list, spacing or tree-size standard; it sets limits on location and public use.

Other plantings are handled elsewhere in Chapter 14.16. The definition of encroachment in § 14.16.010 includes planting any tree, shrub, grass or other growing thing within the right-of-way, and § 14.16.040 requires a permit to remove, cut or trim trees there. A hedge, fence or similar structure needs a permit under § 14.16.420(A), and no hedge, shrub or other planting can be maintained across an existing walkway (§ 14.16.420(B)). A permittee must notify the director at least twenty-four hours before planting, trimming or removing trees (§ 14.16.260).

Upkeep falls on the abutting owner. Section 14.12.010 makes the owner of a lot fronting an improved sidewalk responsible for the parkway between the sidewalk and the street line, including irrigation as necessary and trimming of grass, trees, shrubs or other vegetation. Section 14.12.020 lists deterioration of plant materials from lack of watering, lack of trimming or improper tree maintenance as grounds for a notice to repair. Section 13.80.040 adds that dead or fallen limbs creating a hazard, or growth into a public right-of-way, easement, sidewalk or roadway that obstructs use, is a public nuisance.