To find out if a particular tree is a City tree, or for any other tree related questions, please contact the Urban Forestry Division at 530-757-5633 or CityTrees@CityofDavis.org

In the City of Davis, trees are protected on public and private properties.

Private Property Protections: 

Single-Family Residential City Trees 

In residential areas, trees planted and maintained by the City of Davis within the ten-foot tree planting and maintenance easement may be City trees. It is important to note that there are no restrictions for property owners to plant their own, private trees within the easement, which is why it is not assumed that all trees within the easement are City trees. 

The City has regulations to protect these City trees on private property. The planting, pruning, removal, or any modification of the surrounding areas around these trees, may require a permit or City review, depending on the nature of the proposed work.

It is the responsibility of property owners to be aware of tree-related regulations before engaging in any activity that may impact existing trees. 

City Tree Protection Rules

No one may cut, prune, spray, brace, plant, move, remove, replace or damage any street tree or city tree unless authorized by the City. This includes the following restrictions:

• No one may prune a street tree or a city tree even to make room for a private tree or to clear branches overhanging private property
• No one may knowingly place electrical wires on street tree or city trees
• No one may place or attach wire, rope, sign, nails paint or other substance or structure to any street tree or city tree or to any guard or stake intended to protect the tree
• No one may place any stone, pavement or substance that substantially impedes the free access of water or air to the roots of any street tree
• No one may place cut so many or so large a root(s) as to cause the street tree or city tree’s health to decline or cause a safety hazard
• No one may place fencing around a street tree
• No one may grade the soil around the trunk or within the tree protection zone (the outermost edge of a tree’s canopy or drip line) of a street tree or city tree
• No one may alter the landscaping or grade of the property (including trenching) in a manner that could damage, or potentially and adversely affect the well being of a street tree or city tree.

Multifamily/Commerical Properties 

Trees on private properties can be protected if they meet the criteria for a Tree of Significance, defined as trees planted within commercial and multifamily properties that measure five inches or more in diameter at breast height. For these trees, as with City trees on private property as described in the above section, an approved permit is required prior to any pruning work or removal. Modification of the areas within the dripline (directly located under the outer circumference of the tree branches) of these trees may also require a permit or City review, depending on the nature of the proposed work. 

How Can I Request a City Tree and/or Protected to be Removed or Pruned?   

Check out the webpage on Tree Removal and Modification Requests for more information on how to request the removal or modification of a City tree. 

Master Street Tree List

The tree must also be a tree species which is listed on the current Master Street Tree List. All new tree replacements to be planted will be selected from the current approved Master Street Tree list.

The Master Street Tree List is a listing of tree species appropriate for use as city trees within the City of Davis. The species are adapted to our climate and have performed well over the years as shade trees. The list is also a guide for choosing tree species for development projects and parking lots. The list provides canopy diameter classes and shade area totals for parking lot shade calculation tables.

Some trees species may only be planted on a limited basis as not all tree species on the Master Street Tree List are readily available for purchase and planting. Tree species not specifically listed may be used upon approval by the Urban Forestry Manager.  

New species are introduced into the community forest in small numbers on an experimental basis. The trial use will ensure the trees are suited for Davis' climate and will be successful in growing to mature size.

For more information about these and other tree species, please visit the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute website.

Quick Documents:

Caring for Trees (PDF) 
City of Davis Trees (PDF)
Master Street Tree List