The City owns and maintains “Street Trees” that are located in the Right-Of-Way for the benefit of the community. There are three typical Right-Of-Way planting conditions along City streets:

 

(1) sidewalk separated from the curb by a park strip; Where the right-of-way typically ends behind the sidewalk.

 

(2) contiguous sidewalk curb and gutter; Where the right-of-way typically extends 5.5 feet behind the contiguous curb, gutter and sidewalk. Most trees farther back from the walk are privately owned.

 

(3) no street improvements; Where no street improvements occur, Street Tree Division staff verify the right-of-way lines using subdivision records.

 

North-South streets in the older portions of Chico typically have 80 foot right-of-ways. East-West streets in the older portions of Chico typically have 60 foot right-of-ways. These can vary, so it is best to check if there are any doubts.

Currently, there are approximately 25,000 street trees within the public Right-Of-Way.  Another 8,000 locations are available as future tree planting sites.

If you observe a large broken branch or other immediate hazards, please contact the Street Tree Division at (530) 896-7800.

 

Calls for service are reviewed and work is prioritized for response based upon need and hazard. The City is currently focusing on emergency and urgent hazards affecting the public right-of-way. 

Before he founded Chico in 1872, General John Bidwell had already started a tradition of planting trees. Pictures as early as 1861 show trees planted along the fronts of buildings, providing shade for the people and horses below. Many of these historical trees can be found throughout the city, particularly in the older residential neighborhoods near downtown. Chico’s tradition of planting street trees continues to this day.

 

Research has shown that street trees provide real, quantifiable value for the community. The Chico urban forest creates a significant sense of pride and community identity, and is recognized as a key component of the community design element. Since 1984, the City of Chico has been designated as a ‘Tree City USA’ by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The governing body for Chico’s Urban Forestry Program is the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission, which receives its authority from the Chico City Charter Section 1006.1.B. The general policies of the program are contained in Chapter 14.40 of the Chico Municipal Code.

 

The Commission adopts standards, specifications and other regulations governing the planting, removal and maintenance of trees and shrubs necessary for carrying out the purposes of Chapter 14.40. The Commission also adopts a City-wide street tree plan controlling the planting of trees and shrubs in public planting areas. The policies adopted by the Commission are carried out by Street Tree Division Staff of the General Services Department.

The Tree Committee of the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission (BPPC) will be working on a draft Urban Forest Management Plan. Click on this link to view the current draft. Your comments can be sent to Richie Bamlet, Urban Forest Manager at richard.bamlet@chicoca.gov. We appreciate your concerns and your comments.