Santa Ana, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Santa Ana's tree article exists to keep the city's urban forest producing its benefits, and § 33-185 is its planting menu. The list is the official set of street tree species, and the footnotes tie each of four categories to a parkway width. Category I, for parkways of 2½ to 4 feet, holds the Queen Palm (Arecastrum romanzoffianum) and the Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Category II, for 4 to 5 feet, lists the Australian Willow, New Zealand Christmas tree, Bradford Pear and Lavender Bloom. Category III, for 5 to 8 feet, is the longest: Peppermint Tree, Bottle Tree, Modesto Ash, Jacaranda, Samuel Summers magnolia, Canary Island Pine, London plane sycamore, California sycamore, Holly Oak, Coastal Live Oak, Brisbane Box and Gold Medallion Tree. Category IV, for parkways of 8 feet or larger, holds the Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora), Tulip Tree and Chinese Elm. Ordinance NS-3097 amended the section on July 7, 2026; the original dates to December 20, 1999.

A species outside the list is not banned, but it is not by right either: it can be planted as a street tree only with consent from the executive director of public works. Section 33-186 adds one planting standard, that the spacing of street trees follows the Public Works Agency Standard Plan Code Book. The ordinance itself prints no foot figure, so the number comes from that book.

The article also settles who does the planting. Street trees are trees located in the public right-of-way, and under § 33-187 the city has the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within street lines and parkways. Developers carry their own duty: § 33-188 requires site plan review to include street trees planted along with any development, redevelopment or renovation of a tract or parcel, and the approved plan must show the location, size and species of trees kept, removed and required. Separately, § 33-50 lists street trees and parkway landscaping, where not already existing, among the improvements installed at the owner's sole expense before a permit issues for new work over 500 square feet of floor area or alterations over $30,000 in valuation within any twelve months.