San Antonio, TX Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

The streetscape planting requirement in Sec. 35-512 applies on top of San Antonio's general landscaping standards. It is triggered by any development with five or more parking spaces or any development requiring subdivision plat review; local streets inside a residential subdivision that only serve residential driveways are exempt. When an existing building or parking lot is enlarged, the tree requirement phases in proportionally: a 10 percent expansion of floor area or paved area requires 10 percent of the street trees that a new development of the same size would need.

Tree size and spacing depend on overhead utilities. Where no lines exist, developers plant large-canopy trees at least three feet back from the curb, one every 50 feet or fraction of frontage, inside a twelve-foot planting strip. Where overhead lines run higher than 35 feet, medium trees go in on 30-foot centers; where lines run lower than 35 feet, small trees go in, also on 30-foot centers. Under no option can the gap between trees exceed 100 feet on center, and Development Services can approve shifts of up to two feet in the line to dodge existing infrastructure or preserve sight distance. Every planted street tree needs irrigation for a minimum of three years while it establishes.

Developers can substitute an existing-tree preservation strategy for new planting: keeping a 15-foot buffer of existing vegetation along the right-of-way line satisfies the requirement, and the city arborist can waive spacing and alignment rules to make that work. Where site conditions make street trees impracticable, an applicant can request a waiver or modification under Sec. 35-483. The requirement was last amended by Ordinance No. 2006-11-30-1333 on November 30, 2006, and is administered through the Development Services plat and permit review process rather than a stand-alone tree permit.