Open Space Trees 
Trees in "Public Utility Easements"
The City does not own the property or maintain the trees in public utility easements. This is the responsibility of either the public utility in question (virtually always PG&E) or the property owner. PG&E prunes trees to reduce their effect on the transmission (upper) lines, but not on the distribution lines. Other tree maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner. The land in public utility easements belongs to one or both of the adjacent property owners. Check with the Community Development Department for more information on the location and use of these easements.
Trees in City-Owned "Open Space" Areas
The adopted City policy for pruning and/or removal of trees in City-owned open space (not including parks) states:
1. A homeowner residing in an area abutting a City-owned open space area, excluding a public park, may request that the trees be pruned or removed in such area. Such request shall not be honored unless the homeowner can establish written concurrence with the request b the other neighbors in the immediate vicinity of the subject tree(s). If there is such concurrence and with the approval of the Parks Division, the requesting homeowner may hire, at his/her expense, a licensed tree contractor who, under supervision of the Parks Division, can complete the requested project in a manner which will protect all parties concerned.
2. Homeowners may prune and remove tree branches within six to eight feet from the ground and remove any debris or loose combustibles from City-owned open space areas abutting their property without need to hire a contractor only when the following conditions have been met:
- The Public Works Director or Fire Chief, or their designated representative, has determined that the public health, welfare and safety would be improved by the thinning out of densely overgrown areas; and/or
- The homeowner has received prior approval from the Public Works Director or the Fire Chief, or their designated representative, to undertake pruning or debris removal; and
- Any material removed must be disposed promptly by the homeowner unless the Public Works Director, in association with the San Bruno Fire Department, has authorized specific dates and locations as part of Community Clean-up Days where debris disposal may be undertaken by the City.
Decisions can be appealed to the City Council within 15 days.
