Planting in a Stockton parkway (the strip between curb and sidewalk), tree well, or other public right-of-way requires a permit from the Director and the species must come from the City's Master Tree List, with sizing matched to the park-strip width or tree-well dimensions.
Under SMC Chapter 12.64, planting any tree in a street right-of-way, public utility easement adjacent to a street, park, or other public place requires a permit from the Community Development Director. The City of Stockton maintains an official Master Tree List (last updated October 27, 2016) categorizing approved species by mature size — Small (under 30 ft), Medium, and Large — and matching them to planting locations: small trees for 3'x3' or 4'x4' tree wells and narrow park strips (2-3 feet wide), with larger species reserved for wider park strips and yards. Property owners are encouraged by the City to help care for the street trees adjacent to their property — trees in park strips and tree wells are technically the City's responsibility, but resident maintenance (watering, pruning) is welcomed. The Tree Division at (209) 937-8341 can advise on species selection and the permitting process. Planting an unapproved species, or planting without a permit, can result in the tree being removed at the property owner's expense.
Planting in a parkway or tree well without a permit, or installing a non-approved species, is a violation of SMC 12.64 subject to abatement (removal by the City) and administrative fines under SMC Title 1. The City may also recover the cost of removing and replacing improperly planted trees from the responsible party.
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