# SMUD Free Shade Trees (Sacramento Shade)

> Free trees from SMUD with Sacramento Tree Foundation (Utility) for Sacramento, CA, United States.

Official page: https://www.sactree.org/programs/free-shade-trees/
Source: https://treerm.org/residents/programs/smud-free-shade-trees-sacramento · Updated 2026-11-08 · Status: Open

**What you get:** Free siting consultation and up to 10 free 5-gallon shade trees delivered to your home or business

SMUD, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, pays for free shade trees that the Sacramento Tree Foundation sites and delivers to SMUD customers. A community forester meets with you (usually by video call) to pick planting spots and species from more than 30 varieties, then trees arrive with stakes, ties and planting instructions and you plant them. Over 600,000 trees have been planted since the partnership began in 1990.

## Who qualifies

All SMUD customers qualify, including homeowners, renters and businesses, at properties that receive electric service from SMUD (check the SMUD territory map). Renters need permission from the property owner; without it trees cannot be given. Excludes planter strips in the City of Sacramento (contact 311), community spaces like parks and schools (apply for a community planting instead), and replacements for trees received in the last 3 years (separate replacement form).

## How to apply

Sign up for a siting appointment using the form at sactree.org/programs/free-shade-trees/ (or sactree.com/shadetrees), or call (916) 924-8733. Staff call within about 7 days to schedule; appointments are usually virtual on Microsoft Teams, with limited weekday in-person visits between 9am and 2pm. Trees are delivered at a later date. Status checks: shadetrees@sactree.com.

**For:** Homeowners, Renters, Businesses

> Note: SMUD's page says the Shade Tree program is currently experiencing higher demand than normal and response times may be longer. Species availability varies seasonally.

Delivered with Sacramento Tree Foundation: https://treerm.org/org/sacramento-tree-foundation.md