Simi Valley, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit needed
- From Director before any parkway planting
- Spacing
- 50 to 60 feet apart along frontage
- Corner lots
- Minimum 2 trees required
- Streetlight clearance
- 15 feet minimum
- Hydrant/alley clearance
- 10 feet minimum
- Homeowner planting fee
- None for post-development planting
- Appeal window
- 30 days to City Council
Summary
Planting a tree or shrub in a Simi Valley parkway or public place requires a permit from the Director of Public Works, species matched to the official tree list, and compliance with spacing and utility-clearance standards before a single shovel goes in the ground.
Any person planting a parkway tree or shrub or a tree or shrub in a public place shall first secure a permit from the Director. The species of tree to be planted shall conform to the official tree list provided for in Section 7-3.11 of this chapter. No change in the planting location or the type of tree may be made without the prior approval of the Director. If the Director determines that the application fails to meet the requirements of this chapter, he/she may refuse to issue the permit. No fee shall be charged for permits for post-development planting by individual property owners. ... Unless otherwise provided in this Code, there shall be one or more parkway trees for each lot frontage, and they shall be spaced not less than fifty (50′) feet, nor more than sixty (60′) feet, apart. At least two (2) trees shall be planted at corner lots. Subject to modification by the Director, clearance shall be provided from other facilities as follows: Fifteen (15′) feet from street light standards;(b)Ten (10′) feet from fire hydrants and alleys;(c)Five (5′) feet from service walks and driveways; ... Thirty-five (35′) feet from the prolongation of the near side curb of the cross street at intersections.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Simi Valley Municipal Code Chapter 3 (Street Trees and Shrubs) puts the Director of Public Works in charge of every tree or shrub planted along a public street or in a public place. 11, and no change in location or species is allowed without the Director's prior approval. The Director can refuse the permit outright if the application does not meet chapter requirements, but the City charges no fee when an individual homeowner is doing post-development planting. 09 sets hard spacing numbers: one or more parkway trees per lot frontage spaced 50 to 60 feet apart, with at least two trees required on corner lots.
Clearance from other street furniture is fixed at 15 feet from streetlights, 10 feet from fire hydrants and alleys, 5 feet from sidewalks and driveways, and 35 feet from the curb return at intersections. 19. Permit and appeal fees track the Chapter 1 encroachment-permit fee schedule; an appeal costs half that fee, or $15 if no base fee applies. 22 owes the City the replacement cost of any tree, shrub, or plant destroyed by more than one-third, on top of any other penalty the law allows.
Violations & Fines
Planting, removing, or relocating a parkway tree without a Director-issued permit violates Sections 7-3.05 and 7-3.06. Damaging, poisoning, or mutilating a public tree under Section 7-3.22 makes the responsible party liable for full replacement cost of any tree destroyed by more than one-third, plus any other penalty allowed by law. A denied or revoked permit can be appealed to the City Council within 30 days under Section 7-3.21, with a hearing set within 15 days of filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to plant a tree in my Simi Valley parkway?
How far apart do Simi Valley parkway trees have to be spaced?
Who owns a tree once it is planted in the parkway?
What happens if I damage a city street tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Simi Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Simi Valley to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle parkway planting.