San Leandro requires an encroachment permit from Public Works to remove any street tree (city-owned trees in the parkway strip), but currently has no permit requirement for trees on private property.
Under San Leandro Municipal Code (SLMC) Chapter 5-2, all street trees within the public right-of-way are City property and the City has exclusive authority over their maintenance, planting, and removal. SLMC §5-2-215 (amended by Ord. 2019-015, effective Nov. 20, 2019) allows a property owner to remove a street tree at their own expense upon approval by the Urban Forestry Division. To remove a street tree, the property owner must (1) document that the tree is dead, dying, diseased, damaging vital infrastructure, or causing significant structural damage; (2) hire a licensed D-49 contractor with insurance; (3) obtain an encroachment permit from Public Works at (510) 577-3428; (4) inspect for nesting birds/animals; and (5) include stump grinding and call 811 at least 3 days prior. Trees located entirely on private property are NOT regulated by the City — no permit is required to trim or remove them, making San Leandro an outlier among Bay Area cities. A draft Tree Protection Ordinance (File #14-190) has been under discussion since 2014 but has not been adopted; the City's Tree Master Plan, adopted by Council on Jan. 6, 2025, commits to review and strengthen ordinances.
SLMC §5-2-200 establishes a fine of up to $1,000 for unauthorized planting, removal, pruning, injury, or destruction of any street tree. Violations are enforced by the Urban Forestry Division of Public Works and may also require restitution for tree replacement value.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Leandro, CA
SLMC §4-1-1115 prohibits use of any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system, public address or similar device between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. when it disturbs neigh...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro is unusual among Bay Area cities: SLMC Article 11 sets only one numeric noise threshold — 5 decibels above ambient at the complainant's property ...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro does not recognize any 'dibs' or 'savie' parking custom. Public streets are public space — placing chairs, cones, garbage cans, or other objects ...
San Leandro, CA
Permitted fence/wall materials are wood, steel, finished concrete, and stucco. Chain-link and corrugated metal fencing are prohibited. Street-facing fences m...
San Leandro, CA
Retaining walls 4 feet or less measured from bottom of footing to top of wall are exempt from a building permit, unless they support a surcharge (e.g., drive...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro has no standalone hoarding statute, but SLMC §4-11-1100 caps household dogs at two and applies an Animal Permit requirement to additional animals...
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