STREET TREES & SIDEWALKS

Trees beautify our City, provide shade, clean the air, are home to wildlife, and offer many other benefits.

THE BENEFITS OF TREES

The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. - U.S. Department of Agriculture
If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in five years your energy bills should be 3% less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12%. - Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research
In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension. - Dr. Roger S. Ulrich, Texas A&M University

STREET TREES / SIDEWALKS

Property owners are responsible to maintain street trees and sidewalks adjacent to their property. These responsibilities are outlined in the Streets and Highway Code, the City's Municipal Code, and various City policies.

Since 1941 the California Streets and Highways Code has required adjacent property owners to maintain sidewalks. While the City's Municipal Code has been silent about sidewalk maintenance responsibilities, the City has always required the adjacent property owner maintain adjacent sidewalks.