Director Eases Removal of At-Risk Ficus Trees

For immediate release: Dec. 1, 2014

Contact: Rachel Gordon, 415-554-6045

Height, structure, pruning history, canopy and roots could determine a tree’s fate

San Francisco, CA – Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru has signed a new order easing the removal of individual ficus street trees that pose a risk of failure.

The director’s order relaxes the removal standards for individual ficus trees that meet one or more of the following criterion that can make the tree more vulnerable to failure:

• The tree is at least 50 feet tall 
• The tree has competing/codominant trunks
• The live canopy makes up less than 30 percent of the tree or is in decline
• The roots have been pruned two or more times
• The tree has a history of limb failures
• The canopy or main trunk conflicts with streetlights or power lines

The order applies to both public and private ficus street trees located in San Francisco. Owners of privately maintained ficus street trees would have to apply for a tree-removal permit and pay the associated $339 administrative fee and the cost of removal. In addition, any ficus tree that is removed would have to be replaced with a more suitable species of tree.

With these new guidelines in place, granting of the permit is not guaranteed but approval is more likely.

As part of the formal permit review process, Public Works will dispatch a certified arborist to assess the tree. Trees recommended for removal will be posted with a notice to alert the public. Anyone who objects to the removal has 30 days to file a formal protest. That automatically triggers a public hearing before an administrative hearing officer who will determine the tree’s fate.

“We want nothing more than to see our urban forest grow and thrive. Any removal of a street tree merits serious and thoughtful consideration,” Nuru said. “I issued this order out of an abundance of caution because at the end of the day, protecting public safety is paramount.”

The towering ficus trees are known for their impressive canopy, and for decades have proven a showcase species in San Francisco along such streets at Hyde, Lombard and Potrero. But, their height, trunk structure, canopy size, pruning history and roots can make individual ficus trees more susceptible to collapse and/or limb failure, putting people and property at risk. 

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