San Marcos, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

20, Article II governs planting in the public right-of-way. 050 makes it unlawful to plant any tree, hedge, or shrub upon or within any City Highway, public Highway, or public property, which under the Code's street definition includes the parkway strip between curb and sidewalk, unless the Director authorizes it in writing or it is part of an approved plan or permit. 060 requires anyone wanting to plant in the public right-of-way to file an application with the Director, and the Director will not issue the permit unless the specific tree, shrub, or hedge species is approved; approval can carry conditions to protect people and property, or be denied outright.

010 makes it unlawful to trim, break, deface, destroy, burn, or remove any tree, hedge, or large shrub on public property or public right-of-way without the Director's written authorization, and any tree removed under a permit must be replaced at least on a one-to-one ratio, or the responsible person must pay the City the cost of replacement, as the Director determines. 030(b) requires anyone who removes a permitted tree, hedge, or shrub to plant a replacement of the type and location the Director specifies within 30 days.

040 separately lets the City itself trim, prune or remove trees, hedges, or shrubs along a City Highway when the Director decides it is necessary to protect the traveling public, funding and staffing permitting, and allows a permittee to pay the City to perform removal work they were already authorized to do.