Mature Trees May Affect Your Building Plans

If you are looking for a Manhattan Beach home with the intention of remodeling or rebuilding, pay attention to any large trees on the property. Those trees could add to the cost or may even dictate the design of your plans.

Manhattan Beach has a city ordinance that protects mature trees (with trunks having a diameter larger than 12 inches) in Areas I & II. Basically it includes all Manhattan Beach, except the Sand Section (see the Manhattan Beach Zoning Map). The ordinance applies to trees in front and side-street yards. Here are the main provisions:

• A permit is required to remove protected trees.
• Large replacement trees must be provided when trees are removed.
• New trees must be provided for construction on property that does not currently have trees.
• Fines for violations are up to the cost of an equal size tree or the appraised value of the tree (some fines have been over $20,000).

Preserving the Manhattan Beach Tree Canopy

The Tree Preservation Ordinance was adopted in 1993 and originally applied only to the Tree Section. It was motivated by development of large homes that filled lots and destroyed existing trees. In 2003 the ordinance was expanded to apply throughout the city, except the beach areas. It was revised again in February, 2009 to include tree trimming provisions. The objective of the ordinance is to preserve the existing tree canopy in Manhattan Beach. Tree preservation is intended to

• Provide beauty, shade & wildlife habitat
• Provide erosion control
• Counteract air pollutants
• Increase property values
• Add to the charm of the community

The Manhattan Beach city website provides additional details about the Tree Preservation Ordinance. Read more >>