Huntington Beach, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Planting, spraying, and maintenance
- Filing deadline
- At least 10 days before work
- Permit fee
- None charged (§13.50.070)
- Appeal window
- 30 days to City Council
- Final-inspection fix period
- 15 days before civil citation
- Enforcing office
- Public Works Director / Tree Division
Summary
Before planting, spraying, or maintaining any tree on a Huntington Beach street, parkway, or public place, Section 13.50.040 requires a permit from the Public Works Director. Applications go in at least 10 days ahead, carry no filing fee, and must follow the City's Arboricultural and Landscape Specifications and the Tree Management Plan governing which species may go into the parkway.
§ 13.50.010. ... "Parkway" shall mean that part of a street or highway lying between the property line and that portion of the street or highway customarily used for vehicular traffic. ... § 13.50.040. Permits Required. No person shall plant, spray, or maintain any tree on any street, parkway, or public place without first applying for and obtaining a permit from the City of Huntington Beach to do so.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954605; v17 updated 2026-06-16).
Full Breakdown
010 as the strip between the property line and the portion of the street customarily used for vehicular traffic, under the Public Works Director and the Park, Tree and Landscape Division. 100 confirms planting, spraying, and maintenance are the three activities that trigger that requirement. 050 sets the application contents: applicant name and address, the exact planting location, the work method, equipment and any chemicals to be used, insurance and bond information, and the requested permit duration. 070 waives any City filing fee. 080 lets the Director demand a surety or cash bond to guarantee the work is done to standard.
020(C), which specifies which species may be planted on which streets, and to the City's Arboricultural and Landscape Specifications and Standards of Practice. 160 gives a rejected applicant 30 days to appeal in writing to the City Council after the Director explains the refusal within 10 days. 210 requires a final inspection once planting work is done, and gives the permittee 15 days to fix work that fails to meet the Standards before a civil citation issues.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 13.50 does not set its own fine schedule; work that fails final inspection after the 15-day correction window in Section 13.50.210 draws a civil citation, and the general Municipal Code penalty in Section 1.16.010 applies to code violations generally, up to a $1,000.00 fine, up to six months in jail, or both. Interfering with the Director's enforcement is separately barred by Section 13.50.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the Huntington Beach parkway strip in front of my house?
How far in advance do I need to apply?
Does Huntington Beach charge a fee for a parkway tree permit?
What if the Director denies my planting permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntington Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Huntington Beach to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle parkway planting.