Santa Rosa, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Santa Rosa City Code § 17-24.070
- Planting strip trees
- Must be on Council-approved street tree list
- Other landscaping height cap
- 24 inches from paved street grade
- Removal permit issuer
- Director of Recreation and Parks
- Permit term
- 60 days from issuance
- Appeal path
- Planning Commission, per § 17-24.082
Summary
Santa Rosa only allows planting trees in the parkway strip along streets, or within five feet of pavement or a sidewalk, if the species is on the City Council's approved street tree list; any other landscaping planted there is capped at 24 inches tall, measured from the paved street grade.
Resolution of Approved List of Street Trees. The City Council shall adopt by resolution a list of trees which may be planted within the planting strip adjacent to City streets or within five feet of the paved portion of a City street or a public sidewalk. ... Prohibition on the Planting of Unapproved Trees and Certain Plants. Except as provided in Section 17-24.070(A), no trees shall be planted in a planting strip or within five feet of the paved portion of a City street or a public sidewalk. No other landscaping planted within a planting strip or within five feet of the paved portion of a City street, may exceed 24 inches in height, measured from the paved street grade.
Full Breakdown
070 gives the City Council sole authority to set the approved street tree list by resolution, covering any planting strip between the curb and sidewalk, or any spot within five feet of the paved street or a public sidewalk, and lets the Council amend the list or set minimum spacing between species over time. Subsection (B) backs that list with a flat prohibition: no tree may be planted in a planting strip or within five feet of pavement or a sidewalk unless it's on the approved list, and any other landscaping in that same strip can't exceed 24 inches in height measured from the paved street grade.
075, who can require security for the work and a replacement tree, selected from the approved list and planted per its spacing rules, at the permittee's expense. 080 and lapses if work doesn't start in time. 082. 085 requires property owners to keep trees and hedges on their lot trimmed back if they overhang or interfere with a public sidewalk, though that trimming duty doesn't itself require a permit.
Violations & Fines
Planting an unapproved species in the parkway strip or letting other landscaping exceed the 24-inch height cap violates Section 17-24.070 and, like any Chapter 17-24 violation, is a misdemeanor under Section 17-24.100 subject to Chapter 1-28 penalties. Removing a street tree without the Recreation and Parks permit required by Section 17-24.075 carries the same misdemeanor exposure plus the chapter's replacement-tree and injunction remedies under Sections 17-24.130 and 17-24.120.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant any tree in the parkway strip in front of my house?
Do I need a permit to remove a street tree in front of my property?
Am I responsible for trimming trees that overhang the sidewalk?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa 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 Sonoma County handle parkway planting.