In 2016, San Francisco voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition E, a local ballot measure that provides additional funding for the City of San Francisco to maintain all street trees, repair all tree-related sidewalk damage in the public right-of-way, and assume liability for harm to people or property caused by neglect of such maintenance or repairs. This is great news for property owners who wish to plant street trees adjacent to their properties, or who already have street trees. And it’s great news for Friends of the Urban Forest and everyone who joined us in advocating (for years!) for this improvement to City policy.
Starting on July 1, 2017, these responsibilities legally and automatically shifted from property owners to the City. The City won’t sweep up leaves and other debris dropped by trees; property owners are still responsible for keeping the sidewalks adjacent to their properties clear. But the City assesses the health and structural stability of all street trees, and does the work necessary to keep them healthy. This new program is called StreetTreeSF.
If you have an outstanding (unresolved) citation from the City for violations of the municipal code related to your adjacent street tree(s) or sidewalk, you must fulfill the requirements of the citation before the City assumes responsibility for the tree(s) and/or sidewalk. But if you do not have an outstanding citation like that, you don’t need to take any action.
If you have recently received a street tree from Friends of the Urban Forest, or you wish to receive a new street tree from us, Friends of the Urban Forest will provide care for your tree several times for the first few years post-planting. After that “establishment period,” the City will maintain the tree.
In a nutshell…
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The City’s tree maintenance work will “start with the worst first,” prioritizing the care of trees based on safety considerations. In 2019 the City’s tree care activities will become more routine, with trees being pruned every three to five years depending on the species and needs of the individual trees. See details here.
Property owners who wish to continue to maintain the street trees adjacent to their properties may opt out of the City’s tree care program, as long as the maintenance they’re doing meets City standards.
See this FAQ on the San Francisco Public Works website for more information.
Chinese Version of San Francisco Public Works FAQ Page: E 提案—街樹和行人道保養責任常見問題