•  HIRE A QUALIFIED ARBORIST

•  Certified by the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture

•  Hold a valid C61/D49 State contractors license

•  Ask for local references

•  PROPER CUTS

•  Pruning cuts shall be made in branch tissue just outside the branch bark ridge and collar, without causing injury to the tree

•  No flush cuts shall be made

•  No stubs shall be left in the tree

•  Cuts shall have no ripping or tearing of the bark

•  PROPER THINNING

•  Seldom should more than 25% of the trees foliage shall be removed

•  Sufficient branch structure should remain in the interior of the tree

•  Foliage shall be removed in a manner to leave the tree in symmetrical balance

•  PROPER CROWN RAISING

•  Trees shall be raised to conform to Los Angeles Municipal Code (heights listed on trim permit)

•  CORRECTING DEFECTS

•  Remove dead, diseased, damaged, and crossing limbs

•  Remove any broken hanging limbs

•  Perform crown restoration on previously topped or severely pruned trees

•  NO TOPPING CUTS SHALL BE MADE

•  Topping cuts invite insects and decay

•  Promote profuse watersprout growth

•  New growth is weak

•  Depletes trees energy stores

•  Reduces photosynthesis

•  Prohibits trees' ability to gather and process sunlight reducing survivability

•  PERMITS/INSPECTION

•  Street tree pruning requires a permit from the Urban Forestry Division

•  A follow-up tree inspection shall be performed after street trees have been pruned

All street trees shall be pruned to comply with the ISA Tree Pruning Guidelines and the ANSI A300 standards. For further information, please contact the Urban Forestry Division at (213) 847-3077.

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities.