Planting a redwood tree, one of the world’s largest and longest-lived organisms, involves more than just selecting a spot in the yard. The act of planting itself is not universally prohibited by federal or state law in the United States. While no broad legislation bans planting these giants, the legality and practicality of raising a redwood tree on private property are heavily influenced by local regulations and potential future disputes. The true restriction often comes down to the immense size a redwood eventually reaches and its long-term impact on the surrounding environment and infrastructure.
General Legal Status of Planting Redwoods
No federal statute or broad state law explicitly prohibits a landowner from planting a redwood tree on private, non-protected property. These laws focus more on conservation, regulating the removal of protected trees, or preventing the spread of invasive species. Redwood trees are native to a specific, narrow range along the Pacific coast. Outside of this area, they are not classified as an aggressive invasive threat that warrants an outright ban on planting.
State-level legal concerns primarily focus on regulating commercial logging and protecting existing old-growth groves. In California, for instance, ordinances may protect specific species like the coast redwood or giant sequoia from unauthorized removal, especially if they are designated as “heritage trees.” These regulations govern the preservation and cutting of mature trees, not the planting of a new seedling.
The absence of a prohibition on planting does not mean the process is unregulated. Many municipalities have “tree ordinances” that dictate the rules for planting and maintaining trees within city limits. These rules often specify required setbacks from public rights-of-way, utility lines, and other infrastructure. This regulation applies to all newly planted trees, including redwoods.
Local Zoning and Community Restrictions
The most significant legal hurdles to planting a redwood tree are found at the local level, governed by municipal zoning codes and private community agreements. Zoning laws dictate how land can be used and often include setback requirements, specifying how far any structure or planting must be from property boundaries. Because a redwood’s trunk can grow to a massive diameter of 15 to 20 feet and its canopy spreads widely, it quickly outgrows the space constraints of most residential lots.
Many local codes place strict limits on planting near public utilities or easements. For example, a city might prohibit planting any tree within 15 feet of a fire hydrant or 8 feet of a sewer line to prevent future damage or obstruction. A redwood’s eventual size makes compliance with these infrastructure setbacks nearly impossible to maintain over the tree’s lifespan.
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) represent another layer of restriction, often having the most direct power over landscaping decisions. The Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) frequently contain specific rules regarding tree species, mature height, and placement within the community. An HOA may ban redwoods entirely due to concerns about their massive scale, the debris they shed, or their potential to block views or sunlight for neighboring properties.
Property Liability and Neighbor Disputes
Even when a redwood is planted legally, its long-term growth creates substantial risks of civil liability for the property owner. The tree’s shallow, wide-spreading root system, which can extend over one acre, poses a significant threat to built structures. These roots are strong enough to crack and lift concrete foundations, driveways, and retaining walls, and damage underground sewer and water lines.
When damage occurs to a neighbor’s property, the tree owner is typically held responsible under the legal principle of nuisance or negligence. This applies even if the tree was planted by a previous owner. While a neighbor has the right to trim encroaching branches or roots up to the property line, they must do so without harming the tree’s health. Wrongfully injuring a protected tree, which redwoods often become as they mature, can result in the payment of double or even triple the tree’s monetary value in some jurisdictions.
A common source of conflict involves view obstruction, particularly in scenic areas. While a homeowner does not have an inherent right to a view, some municipalities or HOAs enforce “view ordinances.” These ordinances require a tree owner to trim or remove vegetation that significantly blocks a neighbor’s established vista. To mitigate these future legal and financial exposures, the most practical advice is to plant a redwood at least 50 to 100 feet away from any structure or property line.