Urban Forestry

Property owner responsibilities for Street Trees are outlined in the Albany City Code 14-1.4: Trees.

Please also see City Street Tree Policy.

The Urban Forestry Program is funded through the Public Works Operating Budget. Program costs include but are not limited to contract services for tree planting and maintenance, tree care supplies and tools, and program staff costs.

The program budget is reviewed and updated regularly, and brought to the City Council for approval as part of the City's Biennial Operating Budget every two years. (Sec 3.3.8 - Public Works)

This program is made possible through tax revenue from the Measure M: Parks & Open Space Parcel Tax, as well as fees assessed as part of Albany's Lighting and Landscaping Assessment District (LLAD) 1988-1.

Sometimes, despite best maintenance efforts for street trees by both residents and City staff, limbs or trees may fall in the public right-of-way. An emergency is considered to be a limb or tree that has fallen and has caused damage, and/or is blocking the public right-of-way.

• For tree-related emergencies during business hours (8-5, M-F) please call Public Works at 510-524-9543.
• After hours, weekends, and holidays, please call the Albany Police Department at 510-525-7300.

For all other tree-related service requests, please use the service request portal.

Tree Care

The two major categories with tree maintenance are Young Tree Care(PDF, 129KB) and Mature Tree Care(PDF, 618KB). Homeowners can be particularly helpful with young trees by assisting with newly planted trees. This includes weekly watering, mulching the tree basin, and keeping weeds and other plants from interfering with tree root development. The City will handle any necessary young tree pruning.

Older trees need to be monitored for signs of decline or damage. Trees should be pruned as necessary. Emergency pruning is given priority, and requests for safety pruning are evaluated and, if necessary, dealt with. Trees with storm damage, dead branches, blocked sign visibility, pedestrian and vehicle clearances, among other concerns can be reported to City of Albany Public Works.

Street trees are not pruned or removed for views; to minimize fruit, seed, or leaf drop; to increase sunlight to a landscape or property; based solely on the presence of pests or disease; or for other discretionary purposes. This is an important distinction between the maintenance of street trees and the type of pruning you may prefer to have your arborist perform on your own privately owned trees. In many cases, the above-mentioned pruning may worsen the problem in the long term.

Trees and Wires

Most wire conflicts are the responsibility of the associated utility. Some wires are considered low-voltage and pruning is usually not required unless there exists excessive strain or abrasion. Service drops that extend from power poles to buildings are an example of this. However, always treat any conductor, downed or otherwise, as high-voltage.

Utility service drops are the responsibility of the property owner. When there is excessive strain on a service drop, property owners may hire a professional tree care service to minimally prune branches away.

Find more information on trees and wires.

Contact PG&E at (800) PGE-5000 or other utility service provider with any questions or concerns.

Tree Roots and Sidewalks

Trees have roots and as trees age these roots enlarge and may cause sidewalk and infrastructure damage. Repair of the sidewalk and some of the infrastructure falls on the adjacent property owner. One way to lessen the chances of tree caused sidewalk damage is to increase the amount of permeable space around the tree. Tree roots need oxygen and moisture from the atmosphere to survive. When they don't get enough they grow out their roots in search of more often pushing out sidewalks in the process.

For more information about sidewalks that have been damaged by tree roots, see our Sidewalks page. 

Trees benefit everyone, but sometimes trees can cause issues for neighbors. If the tree is a street tree, the Urban Forester should be able to find a solution. Please reach out at urbanforestry@albanyca.org.

If the tree is on privately owned property, this FAQ should be able to give you some pointers on how to deal with the situation.

Albany property owners can apply to have a free street tree planted in the public right-of-way next to their property, with all planting costs covered by the City. Choose a species from the approved list, consult with the Urban Forester, and submit an application. Once planted, residents agree to basic care while the City handles long-term maintenance and seasonal pruning.

Learn more.

Publicly-owned trees, or 'street trees' are the maintenance responsibility of the abutting property owner. However, the City may prune street trees where needed, with priority given to any emergency pruning, pruning for clearance, or other immediate needs.

Please remember that watering is part of tree maintenance(PDF, 141KB)! Especially for young trees planted within the last 3 years. Older trees should get an occasional long, slow, deep watering during the summer months, during drought, and during excessive heat.

View more information about tree watering guidelines(PDF, 141KB).

Tree Care During Drought

Even and especially during periods of drought and water restrictions, our local water utility, East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD), advises us to keep our trees alive and water them as needed (see "Your Trees Need TLC"). You can download their tree watering guide here: "Caring for Trees in Drought(PDF, 302KB)".

Although trees provide many benefits for residents and for our environment, there may be good reason for a property owner to request that street tree to be removed.

Common tree issues that pose a risk to public health and safety include:

• Dead or dying trees, which may fall on a person, house, or car
• Types of trees such as American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) that are prone to sudden limb failure, which may similarly and unpredictably fall on a person, house, or car

A property owner may apply for street tree removal which will then be reviewed by the Urban Forester and presented to the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission for their deliberation and approval at a Commission meeting open to the public and may include public comment. Trees approved for removal by the PROS Commission will be removed, including stump grinding, by a tree care contractor hired by the City. It is City policy to replace any removed street tree with a location-appropriate species as approved by the Urban Forester.

Replacement trees of an appropriate species will be planted during the next planting season as part of the City's annual tree planting project, at no cost to the adjacent property owner. Species selection is coordinated with the adjacent property owner.

Please see Street Tree Removal for more info.