Hayward Tree Trimming Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

The City of Hayward's tree regulations establish a multi-tiered framework that distinguishes between city-owned street trees, heritage trees, and ordinary private trees. Street trees planted in the public right-of-way — including parkway strips, medians, and city park grounds — are city property maintained by the Hayward Public Works Department. Property owners are prohibited from trimming, pruning, removing, or injuring any city street tree without prior written authorization from Public Works. Requests for street tree trimming due to limb clearance, visibility, or root damage should be submitted to the Public Works Department at (510) 583-4700 or through the Hayward 311 service portal.

Heritage trees receive the highest level of protection under Hayward's Municipal Code. A heritage tree is defined as any tree with a trunk diameter of 24 inches or more measured at 4.5 feet above natural grade (diameter at breast height, or DBH), or any tree of any size that has been specifically designated as a heritage tree by the Hayward City Council due to its historical, ecological, or aesthetic significance. Before any heritage tree may be removed — whether on public or private property — the property owner must apply for and obtain a Tree Removal Permit from the City of Hayward Development Services Department. The permit application requires a justification for removal, an arborist report prepared by an ISA-certified arborist evaluating the tree's health and structural condition, a site plan showing the tree's location relative to structures and improvements, and a proposed replacement planting plan. The Development Services Department reviews applications and may impose conditions including replacement tree planting at a ratio of up to 3:1 (three new trees for each heritage tree removed) or an in-lieu fee payment to the city's tree fund.

For non-heritage private trees — those with trunk diameters below 24 inches DBH and not specifically designated — property owners may prune, trim, or remove trees on their own property without a city permit. However, all tree work must comply with local nuisance and property maintenance standards: debris must be promptly removed, and removal activities must not create hazardous conditions for pedestrians, vehicles, or neighboring properties. Stumps should be ground to at least 6 inches below grade to prevent tripping hazards and pest harborage.

Hayward's urban forest includes a diverse mix of native California oaks, bay laurels, and redwoods in the hillside neighborhoods, along with ornamental species such as London plane, Chinese elm, and various palm species in the flatland areas. The city's Community Services and Public Works departments jointly manage the urban forestry program, and Hayward participates in the Alameda County Urban Forest Master Plan to maintain and expand tree canopy coverage. Property owners in fire hazard severity zones in the Hayward Hills must balance tree preservation with defensible space requirements under California Public Resources Code Section 4291. Contact Hayward Development Services at (510) 583-4100 for Tree Removal Permit applications and heritage tree inquiries, or Public Works at (510) 583-4700 for street tree maintenance requests.