Friends of the Urban Forest

Greening San Francisco

Share FUF's site!
  • Contact Us
  • 简体中文
  • Español
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Our Location
    • Senior Management
    • Board of Directors
    • History
    • Financial Reports
    • Job Opportunities
  • Programs & Services
    • Greening
      • Free Trees for San Francisco
      • Tree Replacement
        • 更替树木
      • Sidewalk Gardening
      • Early Tree Care
      • Emergency Tree Care
    • Community Engagement
      • Community Engagement
      • Have a corporate workday with us
      • Green Christmas Trees
    • Education
      • Green Teens
      • Green Crew
      • Tree Tours
      • Community Forester Training
    • Advocacy
  • Get Involved
    • Events Calendar
    • Volunteer
    • Internships
    • Tree Topping Watch
  • Benefits of Urban Greening
  • News
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
    • San Francisco Urban Forest Media Summary
    • FUF in the News
    • Press Releases
      • 2018 Press Releases
        • Silliman and Woolsey streets win San Francisco’s “Most Greenified Block”
      • 2017 Press Releases
        • Shafter Ave wins San Francisco’s “Most Greenified Block”
        • Friends of the Urban Forest to Launch Large-Scale Tree Planting in the Excelsior
      • 2016 Press Releases
        • Tenderloin wins San Francisco’s “Most Greenified Block”
      • 2015 Press Releases
        • Ney Street “Neyborhood” wins annual “Most Greenified Block” award
        • Save Our Water and Our Trees! campaign offers tips to help trees thrive
        • Friends of the Urban Forest to plant 50,000th tree August 1
      • 2014 Press Releases
        • San Francisco’s in trouble when mild rain fells trees
        • #TechPlantsSF engages tech community in greening San Francisco
        • Broderick/Hayes wins “Most Greenified Block”
      • 2013 Press Releases
        • City’s “Most Greenified Block”: Pennsylvania Street Gardens
        • City to Install 11 Blocks of Sidewalk Gardens in SF Neighborhoods
      • 2012 Press Releases
        • Urban foresters to hold Great Tree Count
        • Friends of the Urban Forest Transforms Neighborhoods
        • Wells Fargo to plant 160 street trees for 160th anniversary
        • Applications due November 26 for subsidized fruit trees
      • 2011 Press Releases
        • Will our next mayor improve our streets and parks?
        • Urban Wood Movement to Hold First Conference in San Francisco
      • 2010 Press Releases
        • 150 Cherry Trees mark 150th Anniversary of Japanese visit
        • “Green Christmas Trees” better than dead ones
        • New sidewalk gardens beautify neighborhood and protect City sewers
        • Save a tree by logging it… into the Urban Forest Map
        • Friends of the Urban Forest to hold 1000th planting Feb 20
        • New trees for Nob Hill to echo nineteenth century glory
        • Big San Francisco tree planting planned for Tu B’Shvat
    • Coronavirus Update: Changes in Operations and Programs
  • Support Us
    • Donate Now
    • Matching Gifts
    • Sponsorship
    • Membership
    • Planned Giving
    • Tree Tributes
    • Our Reusable Paper Towels
    • Donate Appreciated Stock
    • More Ways to Support FUF
    • Supporters & Partners
  • Resources & Reference
    • Urban Tree Species Directory
    • Photos
    • Arborist (and Other) Referrals
    • Plant On Your Own
    • Tree Care On Your Own
      • Soil, Mulch & Nutrition
      • Watering
      • Stakes, Ties & Fencing
      • Sidewalk & Basin Care
      • Pruning
      • New City Tree Care Policy
      • Common Problems & Disorders
    • Useful Links
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Site Map
Home Resources & Reference Tree Care On Your Own New City Tree Care Policy
San Francisco Public Works crew member in a bucket lift to provide tree care

New City Tree Care Policy

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.

StreetTreeSF logoStarting 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…

  • San Francisco voters approved a ballot measure that improves the City’s urban forestry program
  • The measure took effect July 1, 2017
  • Responsibility for the care of all street trees and the repair of all tree-related sidewalk damage shifted from property owners to the City
  • Liability for damage or injury caused by improperly maintained street trees shifted from property owners to the City
  • Liability for injury caused by tree-related sidewalk damage shifted from property owners to the City

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

Resources & Reference

  • Urban Tree Species Directory
  • Photos
  • Arborist (and Other) Referrals
  • Plant On Your Own
  • Tree Care On Your Own
    • Soil, Mulch & Nutrition
    • Watering
    • Stakes, Ties & Fencing
    • Sidewalk & Basin Care
    • Pruning
    • New City Tree Care Policy
    • Common Problems & Disorders
  • Useful Links
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Site Map

Donate Now

501(c)(3) Non-Profit

Donate today and help us continue to increase the number of trees we plant!

Upcoming Events

  • No upcoming events
  • See all upcoming events »

We just can't say THANK YOU enough! This has been such a life-changing, street-transforming, neighborhood-lifting experience."
— Lori Hébert & Thaddeus Homan

INTERESTED IN A TREE? SIGN UP!

Request a Tree

Subscribe to e-­newsletter

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on FlickrFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 Friend of the Urban Forest
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Site Map
Website by MIGHTYminnow