San Francisco has the lowest tree canopy of any major California city at roughly 14 percent. The 2014 Urban Forest Plan and 2017 StreetTreeSF program invest public funds to grow canopy, prioritizing low-canopy neighborhoods like Bayview, Visitacion Valley, and the Excelsior.
Public Works Code Article 16 and the 2014 Urban Forest Plan task SF Public Works with maintaining all 125,000 street trees citywide—a responsibility transferred from property owners to the city by Proposition E in 2016. The Bureau of Urban Forestry uses a tree-equity score to direct planting toward census tracts with low canopy, high heat, and high asthma rates. The StreetTreeSF program funds replacement trees, sidewalk repair, and watering during establishment. Heritage trees and protected trees still require permits to remove or significantly prune, regardless of equity status.
Removing a city-maintained tree without a permit triggers replacement and a fine of up to $2,500 plus appraised tree value (often $5,000+).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco regulates noise under Police Code Article 29 (Sections 2900-2920), administered by the Department of Public Health and enforced by SFPD. Quiet ...
San Francisco, CA
Fence height in San Francisco is regulated by Planning Code Section 136 (Permitted Obstructions in Required Setbacks, Yards, and Usable Open Space), administ...
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco's Planning Code permits residential lawn ornaments, statuary, and religious or political displays without permit so long as no structure exceed...
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. Standard Police Code Article 29 noise rules apply to motor blower...
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. Standard rules from Police Code Article 29 (noise) and Plan...
San Francisco, CA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in San Francisco require building permits whenever the project includes new electrical, plumbing, gas piping, or a fixed structure ...
See how San Francisco's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
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