Inglewood, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulated area
- strip between property line and curb
- Species restriction
- must match Official Planting Plan
- Variance authority
- City Council, on Commission recommendation
- Maintenance duty
- adjacent property owner (§ 5-60)
- Enforcing official
- Recreation, Parks & Community Services Director
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 5-57
Summary
Inglewood restricts what trees residents may plant in the parkway strip between the sidewalk and curb to species approved on the City's Official Planting Plan. Section 5-57 requires City Council approval, on Park and Recreation Commission recommendation, for any variance from the approved list. Adjacent owners then carry ongoing maintenance duties under Sections 5-58 through 5-63.
It shall be unlawful for any person to plant any tree in a parkway not of the specie, nature and kind designated for such parkway in the "Official Planting Plan" unless such planting is permitted by a variance or exception granted by the City Council after consideration and recommendation by the Park and Recreation Commission.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954608; v8 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Section 5-57 of the Municipal Code defines the regulated area through Section 5-55: a 'parkway area' is the strip of any public street, road or alley 'which lies between the property line fronting a street and the curb line adjacent thereto,' the planting strip common in front of Inglewood homes. Within that strip, Section 5-57 makes it unlawful to plant any tree that is not 'of the specie, nature and kind designated for such parkway in the Official Planting Plan,' unless the City Council grants a variance or exception after the Park and Recreation Commission reviews and recommends it.
Once a tree, lawn or shrub is in the parkway, Section 5-58 gives the adjoining property owner the right to plant and maintain lawns, flowers, vines and shrubs there and imposes a duty to attend, cultivate, water and care for them. Section 5-60 goes further, making owners responsible for cultivating and maintaining trees and shrubs in the parkway adjacent to their property, subject to the Recreation, Parks and Community Services Director's supervision, and requiring them to promptly notify the Director if a tree or shrub becomes a hazard to public safety.
Section 5-59 separately bars anyone from removing, injuring, breaking or destroying parkway plantings, while Section 5-61 prohibits letting any parkway tree, shrub or vine encroach onto the street or sidewalk in a way that endangers or blocks pedestrians and vehicles. The Recreation, Parks and Community Services Director enforces these rules under Section 5-62, tracking parkway conditions citywide and notifying owners to remove encroachments.
Violations & Fines
Planting an unapproved species, damaging existing parkway plantings, or letting a parkway tree encroach on the street or sidewalk violates Sections 5-57, 5-59 or 5-61. The Recreation, Parks and Community Services Director can issue a correction notice under Section 5-62, and an owner who fails, refuses or neglects to remedy a noticed encroachment remains in violation until it is corrected; unresolved City-directed corrections can be enforced through the City's general nuisance-abatement authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant any tree I want in the parkway strip in front of my house?
Who has to water and maintain a parkway tree?
What if my neighbor's parkway tree is blocking the sidewalk?
Do I need City approval to remove a parkway tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Inglewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Inglewood 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.