El Cajon, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

56 (Urban Forestry) puts the parkway, the strip between curb and sidewalk, under city control. 040 directs the city council to fix, by resolution reviewed at least every five years, the permissible parkway tree list, nursery-tree acceptance specifications, planting standards, staking details, pruning standards, and removal specifications that govern every parkway planting. 060(H) then makes it unlawful to plant or set out any tree in the public right-of-way, or let one overhang a city street, without first getting a permit from the city manager or designee and signing a tree maintenance agreement available through the public works department; the tree itself must come from the adopted permissible parkway tree list unless the city manager specifies otherwise in writing, and the planting must follow the council's parkway tree planting standards and staking detail.

Anyone digging, filling, compacting soil, or building a structure, walkway, driveway or utility within fifteen feet of an existing city tree needs a separate permit under subsection I, issued only if the work follows accepted arboricultural practices to protect the tree's vitality. 070 must list the applicant's name and address, the work location, a description and schedule of the work, and a hold-harmless statement, and the city manager may require proof of public liability insurance filed with the city clerk before the permit issues. Once granted, work must finish within thirty days unless the city manager allows more time. 060(F) and (G).