Glendale, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Materials over 12 inches high
- Non-living height cap
- 18 inches maximum
- Live plant minimum (residential)
- Over 30% of parkway area
- Hardscape coverage cap
- Under 70% of residential parkway
- Enforcing office
- Director of Public Works
Summary
Glendale requires a director of public works permit before anyone plants trees or installs landscaping over 12 inches tall in the parkway strip between the curb and sidewalk. Section 12.48.070 bans fruit trees, artificial turf, and any tree planting except as allowed under Section 12.40.050.
A. A permit from the director of public works shall be required for the installation or maintenance in the parkway of any living or non-living material greater than 12 inches in height. It is unlawful for any person to install and/or maintain such landscaping or non-living materials in the parkway prior to applying for and obtaining any required permit from the director of public works. ... K. Plant trees, except as permitted under Section 12.40.050.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
48 governs every parkway in the city, defined as the strip of public right-of-way between the curb and the adjacent property line. 060 requires a permit from the director of public works for installing or maintaining any living or non-living material greater than 12 inches high in the parkway, and it is unlawful to install such landscaping before the permit is obtained. 050 of the city-owned tree chapter, meaning parkway tree species and spacing are controlled by the city's street tree program rather than by the property owner.
030. 100 lets the director deny any application proposing non-drought-tolerant plants when a mandatory water conservation ordinance is in effect. 140 makes that owner directly liable for injuries resulting from a failure to keep the parkway in a safe condition.
Violations & Fines
Installing landscaping over 12 inches tall without a public works permit, or installing any prohibited material under Section 12.48.070 (fruit trees, artificial turf, over-height hardscape), is unlawful. The director of public works may issue a stop-work order under Section 12.48.120 with seven days' written notice, or suspend, terminate or revoke a permit; the permittee may appeal to the city council under the Uniform Appeal Procedure, Chapter 2.88.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant a tree in the Glendale parkway myself?
Do I need a permit for low ground cover in the parkway?
Who is responsible for maintaining the parkway strip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle parkway planting.