Trees
The City of Morro Bay is committed to beautifying our community through the use of trees and maintaining a healthy urban forest, resulting in improved air quality, reduced heat island effect (shade), and enhanced wind protection. The City has been designated a “Tree City USA” community by the Arbor Day Foundation for over 23 years. Building upon this tradition, on October 14, 2014 the City Council adopted the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) (PDF). Through this plan the City seeks to ensure that all benefits of a healthy urban forest are available to Morro Bay’s residents and visitors for future generations. The plan serves as a guide for perpetuating and enhancing Morro Bay’s public trees.
Private trees are those trees located within your property lines. Information on private tree maintenance and removal can be found in the Major Vegetation Removal, Replacement, and Protection Guidelines (PDF). For more information, contact the City Planning Department.
Public Trees
Public trees are those located within the City’s right-of-way, between the public road and your property line. Public tress require a permit to be maintained. More information can be found in Municipal Code Section 12.08 and by contacting the City Engineering Department.
Requests for Tree Maintenance or Tree Removal can be made through the City Website's "Service Requests" feature.
Please not that Municipal Code Section 12.08.070 states that:
"No tree shall be removed from a public right-of-way unless it interferes with the necessary improvement of the public right-of-way, the installation of public utilities or is a hazard to person or property outside the drip line of the tree at maturity, or creates such a condition as to constitute a hazard or an impediment to the progress or vision of anyone traveling on or within the public right-of-way."
Landmark Tree Ordinance
12.08.150 - Landmark trees.
Any Morro Bay resident may nominate a tree within the right-of-way to be considered for landmark tree designation. The nominated tree shall meet at least three of the seven criteria listed below. All nominated landmark trees shall be reviewed by the public works advisory board. The recommendation of the public works advisory board shall be forwarded to the city council for official landmark tree designation.
Landmark tree criteria:
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value;
B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds or butterflies;
C. Native trees or groves of historical significance to local indigenous cultures;
D. Specimen tree or grove of agriculture significance and history;
E. Specimen tree or grove older that eighty to one hundred years;
F. Any trees playing very important functional role in city parks or city planning and maintenance;
G. Specimen trees or groves of significance planting by early settlers of Morro Bay.
Current Landmark Trees:
|
Location |
Type |
Criteria |
|
Pacific & Morro Streets |
Canary Island Palms - 4 |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; E. Specimen tree or grove older than eighty to one hundred years; G Specimen trees or groves of significance planted by early settlers of Morro Bay. |
|
End of Dunes on the bluff |
Monterey Cypress |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds and butterflies; E. Specimen tree or grove older than eighty to one hundred years; G. Specimen trees or groves of significance planted by early settlers of Morro Bay. |
|
Marina & Napa |
Monterey Cypress (3) |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds and butterflies; E. Specimen tree or grove older than eighty to one hundred years; G. Specimen trees or groves of significance planted by early settlers of Morro Bay. |
|
708 Morro Bay Blvd. |
Red Bud Eucalyptus Silver Dollar Eucalyptus (2) |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds and butterflies F. Any trees playing very important functional role in city parks or for city planning and maintenance |
|
Morro & Anchor |
Monterey Cypress (3) |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds and butterflies; E. Specimen tree or grove older than eighty to one hundred years; G. Specimen trees or groves of significance planted by early settlers of Morro Bay. |
|
In front of Estero Bay Graphics on Morro Bay Blvd. |
Blue Gum Eucalyptus |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds and butterflies F. Any trees playing very important functional role in city parks or for city planning and maintenance G. Specimen trees or groves of significance planted by early settlers of Morro Bay. |
|
Morro & South Street |
Blue Gum Eucalyptus |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds and butterflies; E. Specimen tree or grove older than eighty to one hundred years; F. Any trees playing very important functional role in city parks or for city planning and maintenance G. Specimen trees or groves of significance planted by early settlers of Morro Bay. |
|
Shasta & Dunes |
Avocado |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; D. Specimen tree or grove of agricultural significance and history F. Any trees playing very important functional role in city parks or for city planning and maintenance |
|
Monterey & Morro Bay Blvd |
Canary Island Palms (3) |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; E. Specimen tree or grove older than eighty to one hundred years; F. Any trees playing very important functional role in city parks or for city planning and maintenance G. Specimen trees or groves of significance planted by early settlers of Morro Bay. |
|
Market & Dunes |
Red Bud Eucalyptus |
A. Any specimen tree or grove of significant size, beauty, cultural heritage or habitat value; B. Specimen tree or grove of significant habitat value for migratory birds and butterflies F. Any trees playing very important functional role in city parks or for city planning and maintenance |
Tree Selection and Placement: Things to Know
It is important to select trees to suit the climate and spatial constraints of the planting location. Root depth, tree height, and water needs, among other things, are important to consider when selecting a private tree as well. Appendix 3 of the UFMP and the The Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Guide both have more information on tree selection and planting.
Citrus trees in San Luis Obispo County have been recently threatened by the Huanglongbing disease, which is spread by Asian Citrus Psyllids. View this informational brochure to find out more.