San Diego, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Plan sets
- species, spacing, exact locations
- Adopted by
- San Diego City Council
- Administered by
- Park and Recreation Director
- Citation
- SDMC §62.0614
Summary
San Diego's Park and Recreation Director sets a citywide street tree planting map under §62.0614, zoning streets for specific tree and shrub species and fixing the spacing and exact planting spot for each parkway tree.
The Park and Recreation Director shall, from time to time prepare plans which shall designate, by means of a complete map of the City Streets a uniform method of street tree planting, zoning certain streets for a certain specimen of tree or trees, and shrub or shrubs, showing the distance apart of said trees or shrubs, and the place where each tree or shrub is to be planted; and the Park and Recreation Director shall submit this plan to the park and Recreation Department and the City Manager for their approval or modification.
Full Breakdown
Under Municipal Code §62.0614, the Park and Recreation Director periodically prepares a Uniform Street Planting Map covering every City street, assigning each street a designated tree or shrub species and setting the spacing between plantings and the precise location of each one. The Director submits the plan to Park and Recreation and the City Manager for approval, then to the City Council for adoption; once adopted it governs all future street planting, removal, and replacement work, and copies stay on file at Park and Recreation for public review. Planting applications go through Park and Recreation with a site plan and no permit fee.
Violations & Fines
Planting a street tree outside the adopted Uniform Street Planting Map, or without the Park and Recreation Director's approval required under §62.0603, can result in removal of the nonconforming planting at the property owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides what kind of tree gets planted on my San Diego street?
Is the street tree planting plan the same on every San Diego street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.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 San Diego County handle parkway planting.