Newport Beach, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

010, ties the parkway tree obligation to construction activity: a person who constructs a new building, causes a building to be moved onto vacant land, or increases an existing main building's original floor area by more than fifty percent must plant a tree in the parkway abutting the building site, following City rules, regulations and policies. The required tree must be at least a thirty-six inch box specimen, and its type, variety and species come from the City Street Tree Designation List rather than the owner's preference.

The construction project must also establish automated irrigation for the newly planted tree. If the City determines that the location, terrain or condition of the property makes planting in the abutting parkway impractical, the City itself plants the thirty-six inch box tree at a City-designated location instead, so the requirement is not simply waived, it is relocated. 020 places the full cost of purchasing and planting the required tree on the property owner, not the City. 030 splits ongoing maintenance: the abutting property owner must water and fertilize the parkway tree, while the City takes responsibility for pruning and spraying it. 010 requirements upon written application, if the location, terrain or condition of the property or surrounding properties makes the planting unnecessary or impractical.