Stockton requires a permit from the Community Development Director to plant, remove, replace, or relocate any tree located in a street right-of-way, public utility easement adjacent to a street, park, or other public place. Permits expire 60 days after issuance.
Under Stockton Municipal Code Chapter 12.64 (Regulations Pertaining to the Planting, Care and Removal of Trees in Street Rights-of-Way) and Chapter 16.162 (Street Tree Permit), the City has supervision over all street trees and trees in parks and other public places. No person, including utility companies operating under a City franchise, may plant or remove a street tree without a permit. Applications are filed with the Community Development Department under Chapter 16.84 (Application Filing, Processing, and Fees). Routine maintenance — deep root watering, root pruning, structural pruning, fertilizing, pest control, removal of dead branches and mistletoe, and clearance pruning for visibility of traffic signs, sidewalks, and streets — does NOT require a permit. Maintenance does NOT include removal or effective removal of a tree. Emergency removals of trees posing an immediate threat to health or safety may be done by the City without a permit and without payment of a permit fee; emergency removals do not require replacement.
Removing or effectively removing a street tree without a permit is a code violation under SMC 12.64. The Stockton public works/tree division contact is (209) 937-8341. Fines collected for unpermitted removals are dedicated to purchasing and planting replacement trees. General code violations under SMC Title 1 are typically infractions with administrative penalties of $100 / $200 / $500 (Gov. Code §36900) plus restitution for tree replacement.
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