Los Angeles, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Planting, removing, cutting, pruning any tree/shrub in a City street
- Residential exception
- Shrubs and plants (not trees) may be replaced per Board guidelines without a permit
- Edible plants permitted
- Yes, in residential parkways per Board guidelines
- Maintenance obligation
- Owners must maintain parkway per Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines
- Governing authority
- Board of Public Works
Summary
A Board of Public Works permit is required before planting, removing, cutting, or pruning any tree in a Los Angeles public street or parkway. Residential owners may replace shrubs and plants (but not trees) in their adjacent parkway without a permit if they follow the Board's Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines.
(a) No person shall plant, remove, destroy, cut, prune or deface or in any manner injure any tree, shrub or plant in any street in the City, without first obtaining a permit to do so from the Board.
(b) No permit is required by the owner of property fronting the parkway portion of the street in an area zoned for residential use in order for the owner to remove existing shrubs and plants, but not trees, and replace the shrubs and plants with landscaping, including edible plant materials, provided the owner complies with the Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines adopted by the Board. Landscaping not consistent with the Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines shall only be allowed if the owner first obtains a permit from the Board.
(c) The owner of property fronting the parkway portion of the street in an area zoned for residential use who landscapes the owner's parkway shall be required to maintain the landscaping in accordance with Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines adopted by the Board, and the provisions of this Code.
Full Breakdown
LAMC § 62.169 requires any person to obtain a Board of Public Works permit before planting, removing, destroying, cutting, pruning, or otherwise injuring any tree, shrub, or plant in a City street. An exception applies to residential property owners who may remove existing shrubs and plants, but not trees, from the parkway portion of the street fronting their property and replace them with landscaping (including edible plants) without a permit, as long as they follow the Board's Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines. Landscaping that does not conform to those guidelines requires a permit. Owners who landscape their parkways must maintain the landscaping in accordance with the guidelines.
Violations & Fines
Removing a tree without a permit, or failing to comply with conditions imposed in a permit (e.g., required replacement planting), is a misdemeanor under LAMC § 62.170.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant flowers in my parkway?
Can I remove the street tree in front of my house?
Can I grow vegetables in my parkway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles 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.