Maintenance responsibility and liability of property owners, public utilities, and public agencies performing flood protection work.
Sacramento City Code § 12.56.080
in effect12.56.080 Maintenance responsibility and liability of property owners, public utilities, and public agencies performing flood protection work.
A. A property owner shall be responsible for maintaining all private protected trees on the property owner's property.
B. The owner of any lot adjacent to a street or alley, at their own expense, shall keep private protected trees and any other private trees located on that lot trimmed, so that:
1. The tree provides a clearance of at least fourteen (14) feet above any street or alley;
2. The tree provides a clearance of at least eight feet above any sidewalk; and
3. The tree does not obstruct the view of any traffic sign or device for vehicle traffic in the direction controlled by that traffic sign or device.
C. The owner of any lot adjacent to a street shall maintain any unpaved portion of the adjacent public right-of-way. Maintenance includes irrigation of city trees or other plantings, subject to federal, state and local government restrictions on water use, and keeping the unpaved areas free from weeds or any obstructions contrary to public safety.
D. The owner of any lot adjacent to a street, at their own expense, is responsible for removal of fallen leaves and other debris from city trees.
E. Before any public utility installs or performs maintenance on any overhead wires or underground pipes or conduits that may cause injury to a city tree or private protected tree, the utility shall obtain permission from the director. Public utilities shall not injure, cut, deface, prune, or scar any city tree or private protected tree, including its roots, until its plans and procedures are approved by the director.
F. A tree permit is not required for a public agency that performs any flood protection work on public property or within a public easement that may cause injury to or the removal of a city tree or private protected tree. As used in this section, "public agency" includes, but is not limited to, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, Reclamation District 1000, or American River Flood Control District. (Ord. 2016-0026 § 4)
Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-24288Fetched: 10/24/2026