Private Property Owners Responsible for Residential Street Tree Maintenance

In August 2003, the City Council approved an ordinance assigning the responsibility for street tree maintenance to adjacent property owners. Many cities have adopted similar ordinances for budgetary reasons, and with the idea that the primary beneficiaries of trees in neighborhoods are the residents.

There are approximately 12,000 street trees in the City of Los Altos, and most residents value the rural character they provide. The sheer number and increasing size of the trees make the pruning and debris removal associated with them an unmanageable task for city crews. We currently have 10.5 positions dedicated to parks and boulevard maintenance, and they have their hands full with the trees, shrubs, grass and irrigation systems in those public locations.

In accordance with Municipal Code 9.20.025 Trees – Property Owner Maintenance Responsibility, residents need to ensure that the trees and shrubbery adjacent to their property don’t conflict with normal use of the street or walkway. The most restrictive overhead clearance relates to the height clearance required for truck traffic. While large trucks are infrequent on most of our local residential streets, fire trucks, garbage trucks and street sweepers do make necessary trips in your neighborhood. The standard height clearance for most of these vehicles is 13 feet above the roadway.

Also, trees, bushes or groundcover adjacent to residential property that impedes the flow of storm water in the curbs should be trimmed back. The trees, bushes or groundcover adjacent to residential property should not obstruct visibility for street name or traffic control signs.

The City will continue to maintain trees growing in the median area or adjacent to a rear yard in the public right of way and street trees in commercial areas. For more information, you can go to the City web site at http://www.ci.los-altos.ca.us and check the Municipal Code or call the Maintenance Services Department at 650 947-2785.