Livermore, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Planting permit fee
- None, § 12.20.050
- Issuing officer
- Maintenance superintendent
- Standard applied
- Approved street tree plan, § 12.20.040
- Paving permit
- Required from public works, § 12.20.120
- Ownership after planting
- Becomes city property, § 12.20.020
Summary
Planting a tree, plant or shrub in a Livermore parkway strip requires a free permit from the maintenance superintendent, issued only if it matches the city's approved street tree plan. Paving a parkway strip needs separate written permission from public works.
§ 12.20.050. Planting trees – Permit required. No tree, plant or shrub shall be planted or placed in or upon any public right-of-way without a permit therefor having first been issued by the superintendent. Such permit shall not require the payment of any application fee or other cost to the applicant, and will only be issued if it is found that such proposed planting or placing is in accordance with the approved street tree plan.
§ 12.20.120. Parkway paving restrictions.
B. It is unlawful for any person to pave any parkway strip in any manner or with any material whatsoever without having first secured permission there to do so from the public works department.
Full Breakdown
010(D) definition, without a permit first issued by the superintendent. 040, which designates which species may be planted on particular streets and which plants may never go in the right-of-way. 060 conditions issuance of a building permit for a new residential or commercial building, or an improvement exceeding half the building's current replacement cost, on the applicant agreeing to plant street trees along the adjacent city right-of-way per the adopted plan. 120 regulates paving rather than planting in the same parkway strip: it is unlawful to pave a parkway strip with any material without first securing permission from the public works department, which will grant it only if the work follows the city engineer's rules on paving parkways, rules that account for the number of trees and existing utilities in the strip. 020, with the Director of Public Works retaining exclusive authority to prune, remove or otherwise alter them going forward.
Violations & Fines
Planting a tree, shrub or plant in the public right-of-way without a superintendent-issued permit violates § 12.20.050, and paving a parkway strip without public works department permission violates § 12.20.120. Both are separate from the tree-preservation article's removal and damage rules that apply to already-established trees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in the parkway strip in front of my Livermore house?
Can I pave over the parkway strip in front of my property?
Who owns a tree once it's planted in the Livermore parkway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Livermore
California rules heatmap·Compare Livermore to another location·View the California tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle parkway planting.