Do you need a permit?
It depends on the tree
Long Beach has no general tree-removal permit for ordinary trees on private property. The city's only tree chapter regulates trees "planted along City streets or on other City property," and we found no heritage-tree, protected-tree, or diameter-threshold ordinance anywhere in the municipal code. Three verified exceptions do reach private land: property in the Coastal Zone, where removing major vegetation counts as development and needs a coastal permit or categorical exclusion; designated Landmarks and properties in Landmark Districts, where a tree is a "natural feature" and removal needs a Certificate of Appropriateness; and diseased or hazardous private trees, which the city can declare a public nuisance and abate at the owner's cost. The parkway tree in front of your house is city-owned and always requires city approval.
What's protected in Long Beach
- Street trees and any tree planted along a City street or on other City property (LBMC Chapter 14.28)
- Trees as "natural features" on a designated Landmark or in a Landmark District — removal requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (LBMC 2.63.020, 2.63.080)
- Major vegetation in the Coastal Zone, whose removal is "development" requiring a coastal permit or categorical exclusion (LBMC 21.15.790, 21.25.902-.903)
How to apply in Long Beach
- 1
For a street or parkway tree, complete the Arborist Inspection Request to Remove Street Tree(s) form, giving your name, the tree address, a daytime phone and mailing address.
- 2
Check the reason. The form's options are: the tree is dead, dying, critically diseased or damaged beyond reasonable repair; the tree is in danger of falling or uprooting; the tree is damaging vital infrastructure such as a sewer, water, gas or electrical line or causing other major structural damage (which requires written documentation from a licensed contractor showing city tree roots are responsible); or other, with an explanation.
- 3
Sign as property owner and date the form.
- 4
Email it to PWStreets@longbeach.gov, or mail it to Public Works/Street Operations, 1651 San Francisco Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813. You can also call (562) 570-2700 option 4 or use the GO Long Beach app.
- 5
A city-employed Certified Arborist inspects and the Director of Public Works or designee approves or denies.
- 6
For a private tree in the Coastal Zone or on a Landmark property, call Development Services at (562) 570-PMIT (7648).
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Penalties
- There is no tree-specific penalty section; LBMC Sec. 1.32.010 applies. A misdemeanor under the code is punishable "by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment in the City or county jail for a period not exceeding six (6) months, or by both," an infraction by a fine of up to $1,000, and each day is a separate offense. Where the city abates a private-property tree nuisance itself, LBMC 14.28.110.C lets the Director of Public Works bill the property owner for the cost of the work.
- Ordinance
- Long Beach Municipal Code Title 14 (Streets and Sidewalks), Chapter 14.28 — Trees and Shrubs, notably Secs. 14.28.050, 14.28.060 and 14.28.110. Related: LBMC Chapter 2.63 (Cultural Heritage Commission), Secs. 2.63.020 and 2.63.080; LBMC Sec. 21.15.790 and Chapter 21.25 Division IX (Local Coastal Development Permits); LBMC Chapter 1.32 (General Penalty). Code current through Ordinance No. ORD-26-0013, enacted May 25, 2026.
Worth knowing
- The street tree rule is broad: LBMC Sec. 14.28.060 says no person may "plant, cut, trim, prune, remove, or in any way interfere with the natural growth of any tree planted along City streets or on other City property" without a permit from the Director of Public Works.
- The city will not approve removing a parkway tree just because of leaf, flower or berry debris, or personal preference. Its published standard is dead, dying, diseased, damaging vital infrastructure, or causing major structural damage.
- Public Works maintains roughly 94,000 public trees.
- The city's Coastal Trees pamphlet states that "All non-emergency tree maintenance within the Coastal Zone must be conducted between OCTOBER 1-DECEMBER 31," grounding the restriction in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the California Coastal Act, and the California Fish and Game Code.
- Long Beach has no heritage or landmark tree designation program for individual trees. Trees are protected only indirectly, as natural features of a designated Landmark or Landmark District.
- Separate street tree permits exist for planting and for trimming, alongside an Approved Tree List, all linked from the Public Trees page.
What we could not confirm
We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.
- — We could not find a city page that affirmatively states no permit is required for an ordinary private-property tree. This is a reading of the scope of the code, not a published city statement, so call before you cut.
- — Any fee amount for a street tree removal, trim or plant permit, or for a Certificate of Appropriateness or coastal permit.
- — The status of an uncodified ordinance listed in the code's disposition table as "Temporary limitation on removal of any protected oak tree within city." We could not determine whether it is expired, superseded, or still in force.
- — Whether the October 1 to December 31 Coastal Zone maintenance window legally binds private property owners or is only the city's own crew policy.
- — Whether removing a single ordinary residential tree in the Coastal Zone counts as "major vegetation," which the code does not define, or falls under a categorical exclusion.
- — A street address, email and web page for Development Services on coastal and landmark tree questions.
Sources
- City of Long Beach Public Works — Public Trees
- City of Long Beach — Arborist Inspection Request to Remove Street Tree(s) (form, updated 10-16-24)
- Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 14.28 — Trees and Shrubs
- Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 2.63 — Cultural Heritage Commission (Certificate of Appropriateness)
- Long Beach Municipal Code Chapter 21.25, Division IX — Local Coastal Development Permits
- City of Long Beach — Coastal Trees pamphlet