Carson Municipal Code Article 3, Chapter 9 (City Tree Preservation and Protection) places all parkway and city right-of-way trees under the exclusive authority of the City Manager / Public Works Division. Removing, planting, pruning, or trimming any parkway tree without prior city approval is prohibited and may be charged as a misdemeanor.
Under CMC Article 3 Chapter 9, the City Manager or designee is responsible for the inspection, maintenance, planting, pruning, trimming, removal, replacement, and care of all parkway trees in Carson. Businesses and residents must obtain a permit from the city before planting any tree within the City's right-of-way; trees planted without a permit may be removed by the City at the Manager's discretion without consent of the planter. Removal and replacement of a parkway tree for utility line clearance is at the discretion of the Public Works Division. There is no separate state ministerial preemption — California's general state laws (Streets and Highways Code, Public Resources Code Title 14) leave street-tree regulation to local government, so Carson's chapter controls. Private-property trees not located in a city easement or right-of-way are not subject to a city-wide removal permit in Carson's code; however, MWELO landscape rehabilitation triggers (CCR Title 23 §490 et seq.) and any HOA covenants may still apply.
Violating any provision of Article 3 Chapter 9 — including unauthorized removal, topping, or planting of a parkway tree — is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000 OR the appraised diminishment of the tree's value under the current Guide for Plant Appraisal (Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, 10th Edition), whichever is greater, plus up to six (6) months in jail, or both. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
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