San Jose's Community Forest Management Plan and Urban Forest Master Plan, adopted under the Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan, set citywide canopy goals and prioritize tree planting in low-canopy, heat-vulnerable neighborhoods often correlated with historic redlining patterns.
San Jose's Urban Forest Master Plan (adopted 2018) and Community Forest Management Plan target a 25% citywide canopy and call out canopy inequities, noting parts of east San Jose, Alviso, and other historically underserved neighborhoods carry significantly lower canopy than wealthier west-side neighborhoods. CalEnviroScreen and city heat-island analyses inform planting priorities. Under SJMC Chapter 13.32 and Council Policy 7-12, the Community Forestry program steers grant funding (CAL FIRE Urban Forestry Grants and others) toward equity-priority neighborhoods. The plan ties to climate-action targets in the Climate Smart San Jose framework. Requirements for tree replacement on development projects, plus development impact fees, channel additional resources toward closing the canopy gap.
Removing protected trees without authorization, failing to plant replacement trees on development projects, or violating Community Forestry conditions reduces equity-priority canopy and can trigger SJMC Chapter 13.32 fines plus development-permit holds.
San Jose, CA
San Jose Public Works and Department of Transportation manage parkway-strip tree planting between sidewalks and curbs under SJMC Chapter 13.32 and Council Po...
San Jose, CA
San Jose requires replacement planting for all approved tree removals under SJMC Chapter 13.32. The standard replacement ratio is at least 1:1 with a 15-gall...
See how San Jose's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
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