West Sacramento, CA Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Tree maintenance strip width
- 12.5 feet
- Permit required
- Before planting
- Species restriction
- City guideline list only
- Post-planting duty
- Adjacent owner maintains tree
Summary
Planting a tree in West Sacramento's public right-of-way or tree maintenance strip requires a tree permit, and only species listed in the city's Landscape Development Guidelines are allowed.
it is unlawful for any person to perform any of the following acts with respect to street trees, without a tree permit issued by the tree administrator:
A. Plant any tree within a tree maintenance strip or public right-of-way, other than those species that are designated in the West Sacramento Landscape Development Guidelines;
B. Move, remove, cut down, poison, set fire to or permit fire to burn in proximity to or perform or fail to perform any act which results in the unnatural death or destruction of a street tree;
C. Perform any activity that will interfere with or retard the natural growth of any street tree;
D. Perform any work or permit any work to be performed within the drip line area of a street tree which would endanger the tree;
E. Trim or prune any branch of a street tree which is five inches in diameter or greater. (Ord. 04-01 § 3)
Full Breakdown
WSMC § 8.24.040, applicable within the City of West Sacramento, Yolo County, makes it unlawful to plant any tree within the 12.5-foot tree maintenance strip along a public street, or elsewhere in the public right-of-way, without a tree permit from the tree administrator. Only species designated in the West Sacramento Landscape Development Guidelines may be planted there. The same section bars damaging a street tree's growth or working within its drip line without a permit, and street trees become the maintenance responsibility of the adjacent property owner once planted.
Violations & Fines
Planting an undesignated species in the parkway strip, or planting anywhere in the right-of-way without a tree permit, violates WSMC § 8.24.040 and can be ordered corrected by the tree administrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant any tree species along the street in West Sacramento?
Who is responsible for a street tree after it's planted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare West Sacramento to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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