{"slug":"sf-public-works-street-tree-planting-permit","name":"Street Tree Planting Permit","provider":{"name":"San Francisco Public Works, Bureau of Urban Forestry","type":"city"},"organization":{"slug":"friends-of-the-urban-forest","name":"Friends of the Urban Forest"},"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"San Francisco","scope":"local","audience":["homeowner","renter","business"],"kind":"street_tree_request","benefit":"No-fee permit to plant a street tree in the sidewalk in front of your property; the City takes over maintenance after 3 years","summary":"San Francisco Public Works issues free permits to plant a tree in the public sidewalk in front of a property. A Public Works inspector checks the proposed location and species, you plant a tree of at least 15-gallon size and maintain it for three years, and after a follow-up inspection the Department assumes maintenance. The page says Friends of the Urban Forest, a nonprofit neighborhood tree planting organization, may be able to handle the entire permit and planting process for you.","eligibility":"Anyone with a sidewalk planting site in San Francisco; the page refers to the property owner for utility checks and tree replacement and does not address renters. Trees must come from at least a 15-gallon container (24-inch box for construction-required trees) and meet minimum distances from signals, meters, hydrants, sewer lines and similar features. Species must be from the approved street tree list.","how_to_apply":"Submit a Tree Planting Permit online (bsm.sfdpw.org/buftrees2/application.aspx) or download the FY 25-26 PDF form and send it by fax or mail, naming the number and species of trees. Call Underground Service Alert at 800-227-2600 before digging. After planting, schedule an Urban Forestry inspection. Questions: 628-652-TREE (8733) or urbanforestrypermits@sfdpw.org.","url":"https://www.sfpublicworks.org/plant-street-tree","source_url":"https://www.sfpublicworks.org/plant-street-tree","season":null,"program_status":"active","lat":37.7749,"lng":-122.4194,"data_note":"If a tree dies within the three-year maintenance period it must be replaced at the property owner's expense. Separately, under the voter-approved StreetTreeSF program Public Works and its grantee partner Friends of the Urban Forest also plant trees citywide at sites they select; property owners get a courtesy notice and can email UrbanForestry@sfdpw.org to pick a species from the available inventory.","updated_at":"2026-11-08T00:02:20.743Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/residents/programs/sf-public-works-street-tree-planting-permit","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/residents/programs/sf-public-works-street-tree-planting-permit.md","license":"CC-BY-4.0"}