San Francisco, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- New building, unit, curb cut, garage, 500+ sf addition
- Tree spacing
- 1 tree per 20 ft frontage
- Minimum size
- 24-inch box, 1 1/4-inch caliper
- Waiver option
- In-lieu fee or alt. landscaping
Summary
New buildings and major additions in San Francisco must plant street trees at set spacing and size standards along the public right-of-way.
The Director shall require one Street Tree for each 20 feet of Street frontage of the property containing the development project... be a minimum of 24-inch box size; (D) have a minimum 1 1/4-inch caliper, measured at 6-inches above ground.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Development projects that add a dwelling unit, curb cut, garage, or 500+ square feet must plant one street tree per 20 feet of street frontage. Required trees must go in the public right-of-way next to the property, be species-appropriate, at least a 24-inch box size with a minimum 1 1/4-inch caliper, and planted no higher than the adjacent sidewalk.
Violations & Fines
The Director may waive or modify tree requirements only for site constraints like inadequate sidewalk width, requiring the applicant to pay an in-lieu fee or provide alternative landscaping of comparable value instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many street trees does a new San Francisco building need?
What size must the required trees be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Francisco
California rules heatmap·Compare San Francisco to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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