Decades-Old LA Tree Rules May Be Blocking Shade Where It's Needed Most

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles officials could overhaul decades-old tree-spacing guidelines that researchers say are among the most restrictive in the nation and may be preventing trees from being planted in otherwise suitable locations.

City Councilman John Lee introduced a motion Tuesday directing the Bureau of Street Services' Urban Forestry Division and several other city departments to recommend updates to the guidelines within 90 days.

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"Los Angeles has made expanding its tree canopy a priority, but some of the city's own guidelines may be limiting where trees can actually be planted," Lee said in a statement. "We need to make sure those rules reflect current standards and allow us to add shade where it is needed most without compromising safety or infrastructure."

For example, 2023 guidelines published by the city Bureau of Street Services indicate that trees should not be planted within 6 feet of water meters, within 8 feet of driveway entrances and within 20 feet of street lights.

The review would examine how current spacing standards affect potential planting sites and identify policy, design and infrastructure changes that could expand the city's tree canopy.

Many of the restrictions are internal departmental policies rather than requirements established by ordinance, according to the motion. That could allow the city to revise them administratively without changing municipal law.

The review would involve the departments of transportation, water and power and city planning, along with the bureaus of street lighting and engineering and other relevant agencies.

Lee's proposal cites research from USC Dornsife's Spatial Sciences Institute and Public Exchange that found Los Angeles has some of the nation's strictest internal street tree-spacing standards.

Researchers compared planting opportunities in Boyle Heights and Studio City and found that more flexible rules could increase potential planting sites in Boyle Heights by 26%.

Under the city's current guidelines, researchers estimated that Boyle Heights could accommodate 121 additional trees per square mile, compared with 140 in Studio City. Using less restrictive standards modeled on other California cities, that capacity increased to 153 trees per square mile in Boyle Heights and 158 in Studio City.

The study found that changes involving intersections, utility poles, gas lines, streetlights and driveways could create additional planting space without compromising public safety.

Researchers specifically identified the city's 45-foot visibility restriction near intersections, last updated in 1988, as a potential candidate for revision. They said high-canopy trees can preserve drivers' sightlines while providing shade.

The research also found that about half of existing street trees in Boyle Heights and nearly 40% in Studio City do not comply with current city guidelines, with little evidence that those trees have created significant safety or liability problems.

Supporters of the review say expanding the urban forest could help Los Angeles reduce extreme heat, improve air quality, lower energy use and provide more shade in neighborhoods with limited tree canopy.

The motion will be considered by the City Council's Energy and Environment Committee at a future meeting.

City News Service contributed to this report.