Urban Forestry

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The Urban Forestry program is now a part of the Community Development Department!

Urban forestry is important because it creates healthier and more enjoyable spaces in the City. Trees provide many benefits - wildlife habitat, stormwater control, and air and water quality improvements. Trees and the environments they create increase our well-being because they provide shade, beauty, and fun places to play. Our Urban Forestry program helps us achieve our Major City Goal by supporting the Climate Action Plan and making our community more resilient and beautiful.

Address

Urban Forestry
Community Development Department
919 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

To Report a City Tree Issue:

Please visit askSLO and search for "tree" to find the correct reporting prompt needed.

Contact:

(805) 781-7023 or email: trees@slocity.org

City vs. Privately Maintained Trees

City Maintained Trees

These are trees located on public property, such as streets, parks, and other city-owned areas.

The City takes care of these trees, including pruning, replacing, and handling any safety issues.

The Urban Forestry team follows a schedule to maintain these trees and addresses any emergencies like dead or dangerous trees.

Privately Maintained Trees

These are trees located on private property, such as in a person's yard or on private land.

The property owner is responsible for taking care of these trees, including pruning and handling any problems.

If a resident wants more frequent care for a tree on the street near their property, they can hire a certified arborist to do the work.

Our Trees in San Luis Obispo

In San Luis Obispo, both the City Council and residents aim to maintain a beautiful, healthy, and safe urban forest. Trees in our city enhance its beauty, reduce energy use, clean the air, offer shade, and improve our environment, economy, and community well-being. The city manages over 20,000 public trees on designated property to sustain this green infrastructure for future generations.

City workers called Urban Foresters prune, replace, and care for trees along streets, in parks, and on other city-owned land. The city is divided into 9 maintenance areas, with a schedule for pruning city trees. Dead or dangerous trees are promptly addressed for safety. Residents who want more frequent pruning for their street trees can hire a certified arborist. For questions about street trees, contact the Urban Forestry team at 805-781-7023.

San Luis Obispo's Tree Ordinance No. 1664 (2019 Series), enforced by Code Enforcement, regulates tree activities to support our urban forest. Standards and policies related to trees are also crucial in city planning and building projects.

For more details, you can refer to the full ordinance here.

tree with red flowers and white building

Tree Types for San Luis Obispo

Native Trees Under 10" Diameter:

More Tree Options:

City Tree Contacts

Informative Links

Tree Removal Resources

Removing Trees in San Luis Obispo

The City requires an approved Tree Removal Application on file in most cases. See FAQs below for specifics. Some removal applications are referred to The Tree Committee for review. The Tree Committee is a volunteer citizen group made up of 7 members and acts as an advisory body to the Director and City Council. They meet and review tree removal applications and other urban forest related activities on a monthly basis.

Learn more: Tree Removal Process - PDF

Commemorative Trees

The Commemorative Grove at Laguna Lake Park

This is located at 504 Madonna Road

This grove is a designated area of the park set aside for people to commemorate a special person or event by planting a tree. These trees become living monuments identified with a custom plaque. Please visit our Commemorative Grove Page for more information and view a map of the Commemorative Grove.

The Commemorative Grove Program at Laguna Lake Park has been placed on hold until further notice. Additional plantings within the Commemorative Grove have the potential to impact future expansion of Laguna Lake Park. To ensure the park has as many options as possible for future uses, the program has been placed on hold. Staff plans to return to the City Council during the 2023-25 Financial Plan with a recommendation for future Commemorative Grove locations.

If you are interested in planting a tree within the City’s Commemorative Grove once a new location is established, please email trees@slocity.org with your contact information and it will be added to our file. Once a location is approved, City staff will contact you with the new details of the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

(Click question to expand/contract answers)

Trees and Urban Forestry
- 1. When does a tree in the City of San Luis Obispo require a Tree Removal Permit?
  A complete application packet is required for removal of any Street Tree; any tree over the size requirement listed in Section 12.24.090(C); any tree within 25' of a creek bank; any tree that is related to development, construction or remodel; and any tree that is within a commercial area or part of a community development approved plan such as a shopping center, apartment, condo, or any HOA managed property.
- 2. How much does it cost to submit a tree removal application?
  Please refer to page 4 to view the current tree removal fees in our Comprehensive Fee Schedule.
  Fees are payable by check to City of San Luis Obispo upon in person submission of complete application or via credit card if emailed. Applications may be emailed to Walter Gault at wgault@slocity.org
- 3. Can anyone remove a tree in the City of San Luis Obispo?
  Only a property owner or authorized agent acting on behalf of the property owner can submit a tree removal application for review by the City Arborist.
- 4. Can a tree be removed without paying for a tree removal permit?
  Yes, but only when the tree is located on developed residential zoned private property R-1 and R-2 zones and under 20'' diameter at diameter standard height (DSH) or a native tree under 10'' in diameter at DSH. (see list below).
  Any tree removals related to Development, Construction, Multi-Family and Commercial zoned property, or part of a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) will need a Tree Removal Application on file with the City of San Luis Obispo.
  
  A permit is not required - Section 12.24.090 (C): if all of the following conditions are met:
  1. The tree is a designated native species and the trunk is less than ten inches in diameter as measured by diameter standard height (DSH, four feet, six inches per International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards) (see Section 12.24.030, Definitions; native trees), or when the tree is nonnative and the trunk is less than twenty inches DSH; and
  2. The tree is not located within a creek setback area (see Section 17.70.030); and
  3. The tree is not a designated street tree, and is not located within ten feet of the back of the sidewalk; and
  4. Planting or retention of the tree was not a condition of development; or
  5. The tree is a palm and the trunk is less than twelve inches DSH.
  
  Native Trees Under 10" Diameter:
- 5. How is a tree measured to determine if it needs a Tree Removal Application?
  The diameter of a tree is calculated by taking the circumference measurement around the tree at 41/2 feet above ground level (if on a slope, taken from the uphill side).Once you know the circumference, divide that number by 3.14 to get the diameter of the tree. Example: A tree’s circumference measures 72” around so divide that number by 3.14 to equal 22.9” in diameter.
- 6. What are "Street Trees" and who maintains them?
  Street Trees make up a large part of the city’s Urban Forest. The trees planted in the parkway area between the sidewalk and the street including neighborhood theme trees, are generally considered Street Trees. Our Urban Forest Services conducts zonal pruning on these trees every 8-10 years. In between that time, property owners can hire a certified arborist with a current San Luis Obispo business license to prune a Street Tree at their expense and only with City Arborists’ approval.
- 7. Can a property owner apply to have a Street Tree removed?
  Yes, a property owner can submit a Tree Removal Application including fee, to remove a Street Tree. If approved, removal of tree and replacement replanting will be at the property owner’s expense.
- 8. What qualifications are required by the City when hiring a tree care contractor to prune my private trees or the City Street Tree in front of my property?
  Tree care contractors must possess an appropriate contractor's license, business license in the City and have at least one currently certified ISA Arborist on its staff overseeing any approved tree work. Please contact Public Works at 781-7220 regarding any proposed tree work on a City Street Tree.

City of San Luis Obispo, CA

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Urban Forestry

The Urban Forestry program is now a part of the Community Development Department!

Address

To Report a City Tree Issue:

Contact:

Tree Removal Application

The Community Forest Plan

Tree Regulations and Ordinances

Over 4 decades as a Tree City USA

Join us in planting 10,000 Trees

Check out our Heritage Trees

City vs. Privately Maintained Trees

Our Trees in San Luis Obispo

Native Trees Under 10" Diameter:

More Tree Options:

Removing Trees in San Luis Obispo

The Commemorative Grove at Laguna Lake Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Trees and Urban Forestry

1. When does a tree in the City of San Luis Obispo require a Tree Removal Permit?

2. How much does it cost to submit a tree removal application?

3. Can anyone remove a tree in the City of San Luis Obispo?

4. Can a tree be removed without paying for a tree removal permit?

Native Trees Under 10" Diameter:

5. How is a tree measured to determine if it needs a Tree Removal Application?

6. What are "Street Trees" and who maintains them?

7. Can a property owner apply to have a Street Tree removed?

8. What qualifications are required by the City when hiring a tree care contractor to prune my private trees or the City Street Tree in front of my property?