San Francisco Homeowner Faces $50,000 Fine for Tree Pruning

A San Francisco property owner, identified as Dennes, is contesting a series of fines totaling $50,000 levied by the city for what officials deemed “illegal” pruning of five trees located in front of his home. Despite believing the trees were on his property, the city asserts they are city-owned and required authorization for any trimming.

Insurance Requirements Prompted Pruning

Dennes explained that he trimmed the trees after receiving a notification from his insurance broker. “I got an email from my broker saying in order for you to qualify for insurance you need to trim the trees so many feet from the property,” he stated. He specifically focused on branches touching the building and power lines, stating, “You see that? I wanted to get them out of the power lines. I didn’t want to be responsible for that.”

Years of Assumption Challenged by City Regulations

Dennes’ family has owned the home since 1988, and he always assumed property owners were responsible for tree maintenance. However, the city assumed responsibility for all public street trees in 2017 following the implementation of Proposition E, which allocated over $19 million annually for tree maintenance and related sidewalk repairs.

Fines Issued and Initial Shock

Just days before Christmas last year, Dennes received the first of several fines from the San Francisco Department of Public Works. “Whoa!” Dennes exclaimed. “Shocked. I’m like, are you kidding me? It’s just brutal, you know?” A neighboring resident had reported the pruning and suggested consulting a certified arborist.

City’s Stance on Tree Topping and Damage

The Bureau of Urban Forestry, a division of San Francisco Public Works, emphasizes the importance of protecting the city’s urban forest. They state, “As stewards of San Francisco’s urban forest, it is our job to hold people accountable when they harm or damage a street tree…”

The Harmful Practice of “Topping”

Officials specifically condemned the pruning method as “topping” – the indiscriminate cutting of main branches. “Tree topping - the indiscriminate cutting of main branches back to stubs…can severely damage trees,” the Bureau explained. This practice can shorten a tree’s lifespan and increase liability.

Initial Assessment and Fine Amounts

An initial inspection determined the trees were damaged to the point of potential removal, leading to a proposed fine of $10,000 per tree. Christopher Campbell, a certified tree arborist, noted, “$10,000 a tree seems like a lot of money,” but added that such fines are becoming increasingly common as awareness of the regulations grows.

Reduced Fines and Ongoing Dispute

Following a review, a senior inspector determined the trees might recover, albeit with a reduced lifespan and compromised structure. As a result, Public Works reduced the fines to $12,950, or $2,590 per tree. Further review lowered the fine to $6,475, pending a pruning plan developed by a certified arborist over the next five years.

Resources and Contact Information

Public Works encourages residents to allow the Bureau of Urban Forestry to prune street trees. For more information, residents can contact urbanforestry@sfdpw.org or call 628-652-TREE. Information about proper pruning and identifying local arborists can be found online.