South Gate, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governs
- Species, location, spacing on public land
- Adopted by
- City council resolution
- Applies to
- Streets, parkways, public property
- Deviation
- Only via director-issued permit
Summary
Any tree planted on a South Gate parkway, street, or other public property must conform to the city's council-approved Street Tree Master Plan, which sets the approved species and planting rules.
The director of public works shall develop and maintain a street tree master plan as approved by resolution of the city council. The street tree master plan shall include a list of tree species approved for planting in streets, parkways and other public areas, and rules and regulations governing the planting, location, spacing and maintenance of public trees. All trees to be planted or installed upon any portion of any public property shall conform to the street tree master plan, unless otherwise specified by a permit issued by the director of public works.
2. Work Performance. All persons who maintain, plant, remove, relocate, damage, excessively prune or cut, or encroach into the protected zone of a public tree shall do so in accordance with standards recognized by the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. (Ord. 2009 § 1 (part), 8-13-1996)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4847832; v1 updated 2026-05-12; through 05-12-2026).
Full Breakdown
South Gate Municipal Code § 5.33.070 requires the director of public works to develop and maintain a Street Tree Master Plan, adopted by city council resolution, listing tree species approved for streets, parkways, and other public areas and setting rules on planting, location, spacing, and maintenance of public trees. All planting on public property must follow that plan unless the director's permit specifies otherwise, and all tree work must meet Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture standards under § 5.33.070(2).
Violations & Fines
Planting a non-conforming species or ignoring the master plan's placement rules without director approval is enforceable under Chapter 5.33's general penalty provision (§ 5.33.100), a misdemeanor or infraction under Chapter 1.56.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pick any tree species to plant in the parkway?
Who sets the parkway tree spacing and location rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in South Gate
California rules heatmap·Compare South Gate to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle parkway planting.