The Piedmont Fire Department urges community members to check the trees, shrubs, and other vegetation on your property behind the sidewalk or street curb, and trim anything growing into the roadway or hanging over the street.

Keeping vegetation clear helps fire engines, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles reach homes quickly. This is especially important on narrow streets and on streets without sidewalks, where landscaping can gradually grow into the travel lane.

Property owners are responsible for managing the vegetation on their property, while the City maintains City planted street trees. The Fire Department requires property owners to maintain:

• at least 3 feet clearance from the edge of the roadway
• at least 15 feet vertical clearance above the surface of the roadway

Piedmont firefighters are seeing overgrown vegetation create access issues in many parts of the city. Branches and shrubs that extend into the roadway slow and impede emergency response.

The Fire Department asks all residents to trim vegetation on their property proactively, before it affects emergency access. If enforcement becomes necessary, the process begins with a courtesy notice and inspection. Property owners may be cited or fined if required clearance is not maintained, but voluntary compliance is the goal.

Residents can also help emergency responders by making sure address numbers are easy to see from the street. Address numbers should be at least 4 inches tall, on a contrasting background, and visible from the roadway.

For questions about vegetation clearance requirements, contact the Fire Department at [email protected] or (510) 420-3030.