The City's Street Division provides the following street tree maintenance services as funded. You can report the problem regarding street trees and it will be investigated. 

Issues with trees in City parks should be reported to the Park & Recreation Department by using the My Park application.

 

Street Tree Trimming

Street trees are trimmed for public safety requirements and to clear rights-of-way. You may request a No-Fee Street Tree Permit for trimming, removal, planting or root pruning following inspection by City staff. The criteria used for determining whether a tree will be trimmed are:

• Eliminate immediate hazards: This is trimming required for public safety. Tree Maintenance Inspectors will determine whether a tree's condition is an immediate hazard.
• Provide visibility for motorists, pedestrians, traffic signals and other traffic control devices: This is trimming of street trees required for public safety and may include trimming of vegetation on private property that encroaches on the public right-of-way.
• Clearing the public right-of-way: This service consists of removing lower limbs and other growth from street trees to provide adequate clearance for vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and construction activities.
• Palm trimming (contractual service): The Street Division trims palms for vehicular and pedestrian clearances upon request only. No-Fee Street Tree Trimming Permits are available by calling 619-236-5513. This quarterly schedule is based on the City's fiscal year calendar (July 1 - June 30). Fiscal Year 2017 Quarterly Tree Trimming Schedule

 

Tree Removal (City forces and contractual service)

Only dead trees or trees deemed an immediate hazard are removed from the right-of-way as soon as possible. All other removal requests are evaluated for preservation or removal, per City Council Policy 200-5 (“Planting of Trees on City Streets”).

If the City determines the tree must be removed in order to repair other infrastructure, concurrence of the abutting property owner is required. The tree will be included on a list of proposed street tree removals, which is sent monthly to the City Council, Community Forest Advisory Board and all community planning groups.

If no objection to the proposed removal is received, the tree will be removed by City contractors. This includes full stump grinding. It can take up to 48 months from the determination date for the City to remove the tree and make any permanent concrete repairs. During this period, temporary asphalt ramping will be installed to alleviate any hazards in the public right-of-way.

Property owners may expedite this process by agreeing to repair any associated damages from the tree if removal meets criteria in Council Policy 200-5.

Requests for tree removal should be made through the Get It Done application.

 

Roots in Water and Sewer Pipes

Tree roots can sometimes interfere with water and sewer plumbing, specifically roots growing into pipes causing blockages or other problems. For information about tree removal, please see information above. Below are links to information regarding responsibility of maintaining water and sewer lines.

• Your Water Plumbing System – The water system for a home or other property is connected to a City water main through a water lateral service line via a water meter. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of any portion of the water system from the meter.
• Your Sewer Plumbing System – The sewerage system for a home or other property is connected to a City sewer main through a sewer lateral. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance of that lateral from the property all the way to the connection with the sewer main.