City of stockton

Community Services Department 

The Community Services Department (located in Cesar Chavez Library) offers life-enriching programs, classes, and events.  

Join us at community parks, event facilities, golf courses, tennis centers, pool facilities, and recreation centers.  

Contact Us for locations and telephone numbers for programs, services, activities, and venues.

Services at the Cesar Chavez Central Library include:

• boat passes,

• fingerprint appointments,

• picnic rentals,

• Pixie Woods field trips, and

• program registrations.   

Youth Sports

Youth Summer Basketball boys and girls (pre-K through 8th grade) applications are accepted now through May 16.  School-assembled teams or individual players are welcome.  

Junior Giants sign ups are now open! A free non-competitive summer baseball program for girls and boys.  League begins the week of June 20.

Trees

Tree-lined avenues offer shade during our hot summers, raise our property values, and clean our air.  That's why so many trees have been planted in the City of Stockton.

Trees planted in park strips (the planting area between the curb and sidewalk) or trees planted in tree wells are in the City right-of-way.  With a few exceptions, trees planted six feet back from the sidewalk (8-10 feet in some newer subdivisions) are also within the City easement.

The success of Stockton's urban forestry commitment continues with the support of residents throughout the community.  Thousands of property owners help by caring for the street trees adjacent to their property.  If you are planning to plant a new tree, the City of Stockton requires trees be on the approved species list.

A new local tree advocacy group is the Stockton Tree Foundation whose mission is "To Protect, Preserve, And Enhance The Urban Forest, Both On Private And Public Lands Within The Community." This group presented at the UNRC (University Neighborhood Renaissance Committee) Tree Symposium.  You can find out more information about this group and their mission through the link provided below.

Tree Maintenance

Trees located on private property are the property owner's responsibility.  To determine if a tree is on private property or in a city right-of-way, please contact the Tree Division.  Residents may trim, prune, and maintain trees adjacent to their property in city rights-of-way but must submit a Street Tree Planting/Removal Permit Application to obtain approval prior to removing or planting trees in those areas.

In some areas, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has a maintenance program that includes trimming trees away from electric utility lines.  For information about the maintenance of trees in power lines, please contact PG&E (see contact information under External Links below).

Tree Removal

Property owners may remove trees or stumps in City rights-of way or easements if a permit (Street Tree Planting/Removal Permit Application) is completed and returned.  An inspector will assess the street and approve or deny the permit based on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) the following:

• visible structural damage or non-preventable likelihood of damage to site improvements,

• visible damage or non-preventable likelihood of damage to water or sewer service,

• disease or infestation,

• house move, and

• new construction.

Property owners will be contacted regarding the tree assessment with information regarding the approval or denial of permit.  If a tree is removed, property owners must, at their own cost, plant a replacement tree within the guidelines of Stockton Municipal Code 16.162.

Heritage Oaks

Heritage Oak  trees are protected in the City of Stockton.  Stockton Municipal Code Chapter 16.130 governs the removal of Heritage trees regardless of where they are located on a property or  the condition of the tree(s).  If a property owner wishes to remove a Heritage Oak tree, an approved Heritage Oak Removal Permit Application must be submitted to the Public Works Department.

Upon receipt of the application, staff will evaluate the condition of the tree and grounds for the application to determine whether or not the tree can be removed.  If removal is warranted, the property owner will be notified of the next step for the particular situation.  Mitigation is required.