Riverside, CA Tree Protection: Tree Ordinances (2026)

The City of Riverside maintains an active Urban Forestry program within the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, supported by Municipal Code provisions placing all street trees — those in the parkway or right-of-way — under city jurisdiction regardless of who planted them. The Street Tree Master Plan identifies approved species by corridor and establishes spacing, canopy, and root-protection standards. Residents cannot prune, top, or remove a city street tree without prior written approval from Urban Forestry; unauthorized pruning or removal can result in penalty equal to the appraised tree value using ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) trunk-formula methodology, often thousands of dollars. Private-property tree protection in Riverside is largely handled through development review: the Zoning Code and Grading Ordinance require tree surveys and preservation plans on projects above specified thresholds, with mitigation for removed significant trees and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) where applicable. Heritage and specimen trees listed by the city carry additional removal review. Construction near protected trees must protect critical root zones under standard ISA guidelines and the city's tree protection standards (typically a chain-link fence at the dripline plus mulch).