San Marino : Tree Removal Restricted

The City Council, after hearing reports that tree removal has hurt the appearance of some neighborhoods, has passed an urgency ordinance that prohibits removing trees from front yards.

Administrative Services Officer Keith Till said the moratorium, passed Oct. 7, will be in force until Nov. 21. By then, the city Planning Department will have presented to the council a permanent measure to regulate tree removal. Although the city code has restrictions on landscaping and yard maintenance, Till said, it does not address removing trees, which has become a problem only recently.