Trees and Urban Forestry
Photo: Red Maple (Acer rubrum) on San Pablo Ave.
To report issues with trees in the public right of way, please contact the Maintenance Division (510) 215-4369.
The City celebrates California Arbor Week March 7—14, with its first-ever Tree City USA flag raising ceremony followed by a public tree planting. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2020 at El Cerrito City Hall Plaza (10890 San Pablo Ave).
This past year, the El Cerrito City Council adopted a Public Tree and Shrub Ordinance to protect public trees; set guidelines for planting, pruning, and removal; and define the elements of the City’s Urban Forestry program. The creation and adoption of the ordinance was a culmination of efforts by the City’s Urban Forest Committee and City staff over the last 3 years to clarify issues and add protections for City trees. As a result of these efforts, the City of El Cerrito achieved recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA in January 2020. The four standards for Tree City USA recognition are for a City to have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The City joins a nationwide network of more than 3,500 other communities that have made these same commitments.
Other El Cerrito Arbor Week events included an Arbor Day tree planting with school children and a public workshop on small tree training and maintenance on March 15- this workshop has been postponed due to the current public health situation.
For future workshop information, contact spree@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us and sign up for the City’s monthly “Green Happenings” e-newsletter at el-cerrito.org/greenhappenings to learn more about El Cerrito’s green community.
Businesses and Trees (PDF brochure) - An informational brochure informed by a Spring 2014 survey to local businesses regarding common concerns about City trees; funded by a grant from Invest From the Ground Up.
Learn about the City's Tree and Shrub Ordinance here!