Santa Clara, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Tree planting in park strip
- Prohibited to residents; City-controlled only
- Shrubs/ground cover in park strip
- No permit needed if maintained by owner
- Governing chapter
- SCCC Chapter 12.35, Trees and Shrubs
- Planting standard
- ANSI A300 and ISA best management practices
- Maximum monetary penalty
- $5,000 per violation, per tree
- Enforcing official
- City Manager (Public Works implements)
Summary
In Santa Clara, you cannot plant a tree in the park strip (the parkway between the sidewalk and the street) yourself; the City controls all street tree planting under SCCC § 12.35.050. You may plant shrubs and ground cover in the strip without a permit if you maintain them, but trees are off-limits to residents there.
No person shall plant or cause to be planted any tree or plant in a public place, apart from park strip landscaping as indicated in SCCC § 12.35.060. ... No permit or prior approval from the City is required for the planting of landscaping such as shrubs and ground cover in the park strip, as long as the item to be planted complies with all requirements of this chapter and is maintained by the property owner. No person shall plant or cause to be planted any tree in a park strip.
Full Breakdown
35 (Trees and Shrubs) puts the city's park strips under direct municipal control. 060; subsection (b) gives the City exclusive jurisdiction over planting, placement, structural pruning, removal and replacement of city trees, requiring all work to conform to ANSI A300 standards and ISA best management practices. Property owners still carry maintenance duties: subsection (c) makes them responsible for watering city trees on their property, clearing sidewalk debris, and removing fallen leaves, needles, small branches, fruit and seeds; subsection (d) requires them to notify the City of any hazardous or damaged city tree on their property or in the park strip in front of it.
35 and the property owner keeps it maintained, but subsection (b) repeats that no person may plant a tree in a park strip. Subsection (c) makes the property owner responsible for keeping park strip shrubs and landscaping clear of walkways and roadways, and lets the City require pruning, removal or maintenance, or perform the work itself and bill the owner, if the Department of Public Works finds a planting objectionable or a nuisance. 040. The Department of Public Works maintains that list for right-of-way trees, and no tree may be planted in a public place or overhang a city park unless it appears on it.
Violations & Fines
The City Manager enforces Chapter 12.35 and can inspect, issue notices of violation and write citations (§ 12.35.030). Under § 12.35.140, any intentional or negligent violation, including unauthorized planting or removal of a city tree, can draw a monetary penalty up to $5,000, plus an added penalty equal to the tree's appraised value if a city or protected tree is substantially injured, damaged or removed; each affected tree is penalized separately. Unpaid City-performed corrective work bills (unpaid after 30 days) can become a nuisance abatement lien or special assessment on the property, and the City may pursue criminal, civil or administrative enforcement under § 12.35.150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant a tree in the parkway strip in front of my Santa Clara house?
Do I need a permit to plant shrubs in the park strip?
Who maintains the tree in the park strip in front of my Santa Clara property?
What happens if I plant an unauthorized tree in the park strip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County handle parkway planting.