Keeping up with home maintenance tasks like trimming trees, cleaning gutters, or repairing loose steps is often seen as part of being a responsible homeowner. But in some cities, routine maintenance can result in unexpected costs.
Paul Dennes, whose family has owned their San Francisco Panhandle home for more than three decades, was trying to secure insurance coverage. In an email from his broker, Dennes was told he had to trim trees near his home to qualify.
Dennes took matters into his own hands and cut down five trees outside his unit, including branches that were rubbing against the building and nearby power lines.
“I wanted to get them away from the power lines. I didn’t want to be responsible for that,” Dennes told ABC 7 On Your Side (1).
But instead of fixing the problem, Dennes was hit with the first of many fines just two days before Christmas; Fines totaling up to $50,000 came from the San Francisco Department of Public Works for illegal tree trimming.
City officials said the trees are located within a public right of way and fall within the department’s jurisdiction. The agency initially recommended a $10,000 fine per tree, arguing that the damage was severe enough to require complete removal of the trees.
Under the StreetTreeSF program (2), approved by voters in 2017, the city took responsibility for maintaining more than 125,000 public street trees. Although tree rules vary by location (3), unauthorized pruning typically involves cutting or pruning a tree without permission or in violation of local regulations. In the Dennes case, investigators said trees were “topped,” meaning large branches were cut down to short roots, which damaged the canopy and shortened the life of the tree.
“As managers of San Francisco’s urban forest, it is our duty to hold people accountable when they destroy or damage a street tree,” Public Works told ABC News.
This level of oversight reflects the value cities place on urban forests. A large-scale study of street trees in California found that they had a total value of approximately $2.5 billion (4) and provided approximately $1 billion in benefits annually, including energy savings and improved air quality. For every $1 spent on maintenance, cities receive about $6.
Christopher Campbell, a certified arborist and owner of CC Tree Design, said penalties like these can come as a surprise.
“I know the fines are increasing. $10,000 per tree seems like a lot of money,” he told the news outlet.
Penalties at this level can feel excessive, Campbell said, and confusion about tree ownership and care is common, with many homeowners becoming aware of the rules only after encountering the consequences.
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Penalties for unauthorized tree work are not uncommon in U.S. cities, but can vary in scale and purpose. In Washington state, King County is suing homeowners and real estate agents accused of removing more than 140 trees on protected public land to improve their views (5).
Dozens of trees were cut, topped or stripped in some cases by contractors without permission, according to the complaint. Authorities said the work posed safety risks and demanded compensation of more than $2.3 million, noting that it could take generations for the forest to recover.
Trees near residential properties are not always privately owned, even if they appear to be. Cities treat them like regulated public assets with strict rules about how they can be changed.
But Dennes’ situation seems less clear. He said he pruned the trees to meet insurance requirements, not to change the landscape.
“It looks like bullying,” he said.
Officials say tree rules are available online, including a street tree map, as well as through outreach such as mail and notifications. Dennes said he was never aware of any of this, especially since his 94-year-old father was the main owner of the house at the time.
Currently, Public Works has reduced the fine to $6,475 as long as Dennes implements a city-approved pruning plan with a certified arborist.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, the safest course of action is to assume that you cannot touch the tree until you confirm otherwise. Even if they are located right outside your home, many cities consider street trees public property; This means that any pruning or removal usually requires approval or permission. Taking a few minutes to check with your municipality or submit a claim can save you from costly fines and unwanted damages.
It is a safety concern when a tree’s branches interfere with power lines; Therefore, it is best to contact your local utility provider or city services rather than trying to handle this issue yourself. Many municipalities also offer online tools such as street tree maps to help confirm ownership and liability before any work is done.
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ABC7 (1); San Francisco Public Works (2, 3); Elsevier (4); Fox 13 (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without any warranty.
