StreetTreeSF is a voter-approved initiative managed by San Francisco Public Works to professionally maintain and care for the 125,000-plus street trees growing throughout all neighborhoods in the City.
San Francisco Public Works is developing StreetTreeSF into an efficient and cost-effective system to routinely and proactively maintain street trees, ensuring that all public trees are inspected and pruned on a regular basis. StreetTreeSF will also repair sidewalks that have been damaged by street trees.
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Now that StreetTreeSF is maintaining and caring for all street trees, residents do not need to prune trees themselves.
Pruning your tree could result in a fine of $2,000 or more, per tree*. StreetTreeSF is now your street tree care professional, so you can leave the pruning to us!
StreetTreeSF Annual Report
FY 2018-19 Annual Report - REVISED
FY 2017-18 Annual Report - REVISED
StreetTreeSF FAQ
StreetTreeSF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
請點閱這裡(link)瀏覽中文版的E 提案常見問題
Street Tree Pruning
San Francisco’s street trees include many kinds: conifers, broadleaf evergreens, and deciduous trees that lose their leaves each year. Within each species, individual trees differ in age, size, health, and shape.
So every tree has different pruning needs. Some need little or no pruning. Others need a lot. A tree might need pruning to:
- Grow a stronger structure
- Control pests
- Stay clear of overhead power lines
Our routine pruning cycle
Public Works prunes street trees on a regular schedule, not just when problems come up. We prune to:
- Make trees stronger and less likely to drop branches, including removing dead branches
- Prevent or control pests
- Keep sidewalks, streets, and buildings clear for people walking, vehicles, and structures
- Make streets safer for residents and visitors
- Repair damage from wind
- Lower long-term maintenance costs by shaping young trees early
- Shape how some trees flower and fruit
- Improve how trees look
Pruning by request
Between routine visits, we also respond to reports of street tree problems, including:
- Broken or hanging branches
- Damaged or dead branches
- Branches blocking streets, sidewalks, or bike lanes
- Branches blocking traffic signs or signals
To report a problem with a street tree, contact 311.
Tree Pruning Schedule
Since 2017, Public Works has been responsible for maintaining San Francisco’s street trees under Proposition E. Our first citywide pruning cycle, StreetTreeSF 1.0, taught us valuable lessons.
We’re now launching StreetTreeSF 2.0, with a focus on working more efficiently. In October, 2026, Public Works contracted with urban tree intelligence company greehill to catalog all of San Francisco’s 100,000-plus street trees using LiDAR, a first for the City. As opposed to a years-long endeavor, with LiDAR, the expectation is to have a full count of the trees in San Francisco’s urban forest in about a month. Public Works will use the data collected to refine our pruning schedule. The data collected from the LiDAR-assisted tree inventory will help better inform decisions about what the schedule, budget and planning should look like going forward. With more than 70 standardized data points per tree, the data collected on San Francisco’s urban forest is expected to be the most extensive and comprehensive to date.
The pruning map has been integrated into the San Francisco Street Tree Map.
Look up scheduled pruning and tree information, and explore new neighborhood and Supervisor District layers.
Take me to the Street Tree Map!
Why is the pruning map organized by blocks and not by street or by tree?
San Francisco’s tree maintenance schedule is organized by city blocks to allow for all work needed on a block to happen at the same time. This is the most efficient and cost-effective method to maintenance and ensures that there are minimal interruptions to the neighborhood.
How is the scheduling of blocks being prioritized?
The scheduling of blocks is based on the concentration of tree prunes, tree removals and sidewalk repairs that are a high priority. If a block has trees and sidewalk repairs in deteriorating condition that pose a safety risk and are located near bus stops, schools and senior centers, work on these blocks will be scheduled for maintenance as soon as possible.
Why is my area scheduled after another area with fewer trees?
The area scheduled before your area may have fewer overall trees, but a higher number of high-risk trees in deteriorating condition, giving that area priority.
There is a dangerous looking tree in my area but the estimated pruning isn't scheduled for a couple of years. Is this an issue?
A tree that looks dangerous may not pose an immediate safety risk now and therefore has been scheduled for pruning at a later time. However, the tree’s condition is being tracked by an inspector and recorded in a database. Information in the database about the tree over time will inform any changes to the pruning schedule for that tree. While we are moving toward a preventative maintenance pruning schedule for all trees, we are still inspecting and noting the condition of trees at risk and we will still address trees which pose an immediate risk to public safety.
I am a property owner and I want to continue to maintain my street tree. Can I do so?
Yes, you can opt out of StreetTreeSF if you are a property owner who would like to continue to maintain their street tree(s).
Your commitment to maintain your tree includes caring for it per City standards. Once initiated, the opt-out process will connect you with one of our certified tree inspectors for an inspection of your tree. The process concludes with the signing of the Street Tree Maintenance Agreement. Contact us at urbanforestry@sfdpw.org or 628-652-TREE (8733) to begin the opt-out process.
Where can I get more information or direct a question?
For more information about street trees in general, contact San Francisco Public Works Bureau of Urban Forestry at 628-652-TREE (8733) or urbanforestry@sfdpw.org.
Tree Related Sidewalk Repair
Public Works finds and fixes damaged sidewalks in two ways: through scheduled neighborhood inspections, and in response to reports from the public through 311.
Scheduled inspections (Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Program)
Through the Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Program (SIRP), we inspect sidewalks block by block, notify the people responsible for repairs, and coordinate the work quickly.
Where we inspect first
We start with the sidewalks people use most. Following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we put first the walkways that serve government offices, transit, businesses and other public places.
Sidewalks near more of these community features are inspected and repaired first:
- Commercial districts
- Transit routes
- Schools, hospitals, senior centers and public facilities within 500 feet
Reports through 311
Emergencies
If a sidewalk problem is an immediate danger to people or transit, we send a crew right away. We often make the spot safe first, then come back for a lasting repair. Reports from people with disabilities also get priority.
Non-emergency reports
We aim to inspect all reports within 3 to 5 business days. We schedule inspections based on:
- When we received the report
- Location, so we can group nearby inspections together
Some reports are inspected right away, including:
- Trip-and-fall incidents or claims
- Reports from people with disabilities
- Missing vent or vault covers
- Collapsed sidewalks
An inspector visits the site, decides who is responsible for the repair, marks the sidewalk and notifies that person or agency. If the City is responsible, the inspector sends the repair to our Cement Shop.
Have you seen one of our crews or contractors in your neighborhood? Let us know how they are doing.
Email your feedback to urbanforestry@sfdpw.org
If a street tree near you is posing an immediate safety concern in a public right-of-way, report the issue to 311 online, via the mobile SF 311 app or call 311. Before you contact us, determine the street address and the nearest cross-street where the street tree is located.
