Significant and Landmark Trees

In 2007, The Urban Forestry Ordinance of the Public Works Code was revised by the Board of Supervisors to protect certain trees on private property that are close to the public right-of-way.

Significant trees are on private property and within 10 feet of the public right-of-way and also meet one of the following size requirements:

• 20 feet or greater in height,
• 15 feet or greater canopy width, or
• 12 inches or greater diameter of trunk measured at 4.5 feet above grade.

These trees are granted the same protections as street trees, and a permit is required before any significant tree can be removed. Permits are required for planting or removing street trees and significant trees.

Landmark trees are trees that have been designated by the Board of Supervisors as extra special.  It may be due to the rareness of the species, their size or age, or extraordinary structure, or ecological contribution.  In addition, historical or cultural importance can qualify a tree for Landmark Status.  Property owners, any member of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, the Landmarks Advisory Board, and/or directors of a city department may nominate trees on public or private land to protect and preserve their value and presence in the community under the San Francisco Landmark Tree Program.  

Trees that are designated by the city for landmark status are protected from physical damage and removal. 

List of Designated Landmark Trees

1. 1801 Bush Street (Adjacent): Six Blue Gum Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)

2. 3rd Street and Yosemite Median Triangle: Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)

3. 1701 Franklin Street: Flaxleaf Paperbark (Melaleuca linariifolia)

4. 555 Battery Street: Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis)

5. 1221 Stanyan Street: New Zealand Christmas Tree (Metrosiderous excelsus)

6. Dolores Street Center Island: All Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis)

7. Quesada Street Median (West of 3rd Street to dead end): 13 Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis)

8. Dolores Street Median (Across 730 Dolores Street and second from 1546 Dolores Street): Two Cliff Date Palms (Phoenix rupicola)

9. Dolores Street Median (Across 1608-1650 Dolores Street): The grove of Guadalupe Palm (Brahea edulis)

10. 20-28 Rosemont Terrace: Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) - removed due to structural failure 

11. 730 28th Avenue (Backyard): California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)

12. 4124 23rd Street (Backyard): Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)

13. 3555 Cesar Chavez Street: Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) 

14. 500 Cortland Avenue (Bernal Heights Library): Two Flowering Ash (Fraxinus ornus) 

15. Bernal Heights Natural Area (Folsom and Bernal Height Blvd Intersection): Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)

16. 2626 Vallejo Street (Backyard): Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)

17. 115 Parker Avenue (Backyard): Howell’s Manzanita (Arctostaphylos hispidule)

18. 757 Pennsylvania Avenue (Behind, Assessor's Block 416B, Lot 11): California Buckeye tree (Aesculus californica)

19. 46 Stillings Avenue: Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

20. 3066 Market Street (Behind, Assessor's Block 2656, Lot 20): Giant Sequoia Tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum) 

21. 46A Cook Street: Norfolk-Island Cook Pine Hybrid (Araucaria spp.)

22. 2251 Filbert St. (Backyard): Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis) 

23. 2694 McAllister Street: California buckeye (Aesculus californica) - removed due to tree death.

24. 20th Street at Noe Street (Public right-of-way): Cork Oak (Quercus suber)

25. 313 Scott Street: Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

26. 4 Montclair Terrace (backyard): Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)

To nominate a remarkable tree, visit the Landmark Tree Program webpage at SF Environment.

For additional information, contact us at:
San Francisco Public Works
Bureau of Urban Forestry
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 1000 (Map)
San Francisco, CA 94103
628-652-TREE (8733)
urbanforestry@sfdpw.org