Long Beach, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LBMC § 21.42.050.B.1
- Trigger
- New dwelling unit, discretionary approval, Site Plan Review, or special-height fence
- Standard
- 1 tree per 25 ft of property line
- Minimum size
- 24-inch box canopy tree
- Species/irrigation
- Set by Director of Public Works
- Maintenance duty
- Owner, per §21.42.050.A and D
Summary
Add a dwelling unit, pursue discretionary development or Site Plan Review, or build a fence under the special height provisions, and Long Beach requires one 24-inch box canopy street tree for every 25 feet of property line in the parkway. LBMC § 21.42.050.B.1 puts species approval and irrigation specs in the hands of the Director of Public Works.
1.Provision of Trees. One (1) large canopy street tree, of not less than twenty-four inch (24") box size, shall be provided for each twenty-five feet (25') of property line length whenever a new dwelling unit is added to the adjoining property or new development requiring discretionary approval, Site Plan Review, or a fence built under the special fence height provisions. Such street tree shall be of a species approved by the Director of Public Works and shall be provided with root barriers and irrigation according to the specifications of the Director of Public Works.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
A makes the owner of private property adjoining the public right-of-way responsible for planting and maintaining landscaping in the parkway, the strip between curb and property line, for the full frontage, and the City disclaims responsibility for loss or damage to nonconforming landscaping during street, curb or sidewalk repairs. 1 sets the planting formula that triggers on new dwelling units, discretionary approvals, Site Plan Review, or a fence built under the special fence-height provisions: one large canopy street tree of not less than 24-inch box size for every 25 feet of property line, of a species the Director of Public Works approves, installed with root barriers and irrigation to the Director's specifications.
0) are prohibited in parkways and street medians, native low-water trees are preferred, and drip or low-volume irrigation is encouraged. 08. Subsection D then layers on maintenance duties, the owner must keep the parkway free of refuse, noxious weeds and hazardous or thorny plants, and the City Engineer sets standards limiting landscape height near intersections and driveways to protect sightlines.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 21.42 defaults to LBMC § 1.32.010's general penalty rather than the Code's infraction list: failing to plant the required street tree, or letting parkway landscaping fall out of compliance, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day treated as a separate offense, and the condition can be deemed a public nuisance the City may summarily abate.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is a parkway street tree required in Long Beach?
What size and species of tree does the city require?
Who takes care of the tree after it's planted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach 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.