Tree Maintenance

The Street Services Section is responsible for planting and maintaining approximately 20,000 trees within the public right-of-way and in City parks.

Tree Planting

A property owner can request to have a City Tree planted or replaced in the public right-of-way pending approval from the Street Services Section. Once a tree request has been made, the proposed site is inspected and the property owner is sent a list of trees to choose from. See Tree Varieties.

The property owner is responsible for watering, sweeping, or raking leaves and flowers, and notifying the Section if there is a problem. Watering is usually required for the first three to five years.

The City of San Leandro charges $100 per tree to plant or replace City Trees, and $50 per concrete cutout, up to 4 feet by 4 feet. Trees that are damaged by a storm event or vandalism are replaced at no cost to the resident upon request.

Tree Trimming & Removal

SLMC Section 5-2-200 establishes a fine of up to $1,000 for unauthorized planting, removal, pruning, injury, or destruction of any street tree. SLMC Section 5-2-215 allows for a property owner to, upon approval by the Public Works Director, remove a street tree at the property owner's expense. The City will only remove trees that are deemed dead/dying or have a structural flaw that cannot be remedied. A property owner now has the option to remove or prune a street tree that is otherwise in good/fair health. The following steps are required:

1. Step 1. Contact Public Works at 510-577-3440 with your street address. Staff will assess the tree to determine health/viability.
2. Step 2. If Public Works staff determines that tree is in healthy and not in need of pruning, the property owner may proceed with pruning/removal of the tree after Step 3.
3. Step 3. Prior to pruning or removal of a City tree, the property owner is required to first obtain an Encroachment Permit from Engineering and Transportation Department., located at 835 E 14th Street.

Please note the following:

• It is recommended that an experienced tree professional with a D-49 contractor's license do any pruning/removal.
• The cost for the Encroachment Permit will be determined at the time of the application.
• The level of insurance coverage required will be determined at the time of application.
• Tree removals require the stump to be ground out and the area returned to softscape or hardscape unless a replacement tree is requested. The City will plant a new tree at a cost of $100 if requested by property owner. See Tree Varieties.
• If stump is not ground out the same day as a tree's removal, approximately 5 feet of trunk must be left in place until stump is removed. Flush-cutting the tree is not permitted as this creates a tripping hazard. 811 must be called at least 3 days prior to stump removal.
• The property owner and/or tree contractor must perform a thorough visual inspection of the tree prior to pruning/removal to determine the presence of nesting birds/animals. If active nests are found, pruning/removal work must be re-scheduled until nest are no longer in use.
• If a replacement tree is not requested ($100 fee), the property owner is required to pay the fee for a tree to be planted in a location of the City's choosing.