Street Tree Planting Permit
馃嚭馃嚫 San Francisco, CA, United States 路 San Francisco Public Works, Bureau of Urban Forestry
No-fee permit to plant a street tree in the sidewalk in front of your property; the City takes over maintenance after 3 years
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.
Who qualifies
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.
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