Adopt-a-Tree Program

What is the Adopt-A-Tree program?

The Adopt-A-Tree program allows Stockton residents to help keep our urban forest healthy and strong.  With the cooperation and support of the Stockton Parks and Recreation Department’s Tree Division, residents are able to plant and establish park and street trees or contribute financial support to proper tree maintenance performed by licensed tree contractors.

Learning about trees and nurturing the community’s urban forest is a valuable program that can provide individuals, organizations and agencies with learning experiences and recognition while stretching taxpayer dollars.

Being a part of this program is a great way to promote civic and environmental responsibility and community pride within your club or agency.

What Can Participants Do?

• Plant and establish City-approved park and street trees
• Provide financial support for tree  maintenance by licensed tree contractors

Your Commitment

• Plant City-approved trees
• Follow safety and permit requirements
• Hire a licensed contractor for pruning
• Call the City of Stockton Tree Division for a consultation prior to performing any tree maintenance

Our Commitment

• Planting assistance, urban forestry education and technical support.
• Memorandum of Understanding
• Participants will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Stockton.  The MOU will state the agency, organization or individual’s responsibilities and will identify the adopted tree(s).

How to Get Started

• Select the tree(s) you would like to adopt
• Select the location where you would like to plant a tree
• Discuss the tree(s) with the City Arborist
• Complete the application/MOU
• Review and follow safety practices
• Hire a licensed contractor to perform any tree pruning

Why Participate?

You may have seen trees throughout Stockton that have been improperly cared for.  This program will help educate children and adults about how to care for trees and why trees are important to our community.  Healthy trees improve our air quality, reduce heating and cooling energy costs and can decrease stormwater runoff and flooding.

Contact the Stockton Parks and Recreation Tree Division online or call (209) 937-8317

The City of Stockton's Municipal Code offers guidelines pertaining to the following:

• Trees, weeds, bushes, hedges, etc.
• Regulations pertaining to the Planting, Care and Removal  of Trees in Street Rights-of-Way, Public Utility Easements Adjacent to Street Rights-of-Way, Parks and Other Public Places
• Heritage Trees
• Approved Tree List for city right-of-way planting (pdf)

All trees are not appropriate for planting in the city right-of-way. If you plan on planting a tree in the city right-of-way, please be sure to plant a tree from the approved list.

A new tree may be planted in the city's right-of-way, free of charge, to those residing within the city limits. Approximately 500 trees this season are scheduled for planting from October through March. All the trees for the 2006-07 planting season have been committed to previous requests. Requests for the 2007-08 planting season are invited. Send your request via Ask Stockton, or call (209) 937-8317.