What yard rules come with a house in San Dimas?

A large tree, a boat beside the garage, or a low fence may seem like an ordinary part of a San Dimas house. Each can affect what you may do after closing.

The city’s current pages give a direct starting point. A significant mature tree may require a permit before removal or relocation. An RV, including several types of trailers and boats, generally belongs behind the house building line on concrete of a stated thickness. A front yard fence may not exceed 42 inches.

Those rules are specific enough to check before you buy or list, but they do not answer every property question. Tree measurements, yard boundaries, setbacks, existing improvements, and historic status can all require a closer look at the individual house.

Which mature trees does San Dimas protect?

San Dimas protects mature significant trees that meet the measurements stated on its Planning Division pages.

The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 913 in 1990 to preserve and protect mature significant trees growing in the city. The city’s current Tree Preservation page says a tree may be removed or relocated only because of disease, development of the property, or health and safety concerns affecting the general public.

The measurement depends on the tree. An oak qualifies at a trunk diameter of 8 inches or more. Another species qualifies at 10 inches or more in diameter.

A multi trunk tree falls under the definition when its total circumference is 38 inches or more and at least one trunk has a minimum diameter of 4 inches. Diameter is measured 36 inches above the ground at the base of the tree.

For a comparison with a different city’s rule, see What oak tree permit rules affect a Calabasas home sale?.

What has to happen before a significant tree is removed?

The property owner must obtain a tree removal permit from the Development Services, Planning Division before removing or relocating a significant tree.

The city’s page warns that failing to obtain the permit can result in fines or criminal charges being filed. It does not give a fine amount, a private tree permit fee, or a processing time. It also does not say how many protected trees are in San Dimas.

Applications are available from the Planning Department at City Hall. A seller considering tree work before listing can ask Planning about the application before arranging removal or relocation.

The stated grounds for removing or relocating a protected tree are disease, development of the property, or health and safety concerns affecting the general public. The city’s current page does not add other reasons.

The city does not address whether a tree permit transfers with a sale or whether a seller has a disclosure duty involving the tree rule. Broader California disclosure topics are covered in The California seller disclosure guide.

Are public trees handled differently?

Public trees that the city maintains are handled through written permission from the Municipal Arborist and a permit from the Parks and Recreation Department.

The city describes these as public or community trees. No person may trim, plant, relocate, root prune, or apply pesticides to one without prior written permission. The restriction also covers grading or building in a way that may directly affect the tree’s health.

There is no fee for the community tree permit. That statement applies to the community tree permit described on the city’s page, not the private significant tree removal permit. Title 13 of the San Dimas Municipal Code sets conditions for community tree permits.

The Parks and Recreation Department handles the permit for a public tree, while the Planning Division handles the permit to remove or relocate a significant tree on private property.

Where can an RV, boat, or trailer be parked?

An RV, boat, or included trailer generally must be in the rear or side yard behind the house building line.

The city’s Planning Division FAQ uses “RV” broadly. It includes horse trailers, utility trailers, boats, and camper shells.

The parking surface must be concrete that is 3 1/2 inches thick. The parked vehicle also must not block access to vehicle parking in a garage. A proposed space would not meet the published conditions if it is in front of the house building line, lacks the stated concrete surface, or prevents garage access.

Temporary front driveway parking is allowed for loading and unloading. The driveway must be paved, the period may be up to 48 hours, and a free permit is required through the city’s online permit system.

How high can a yard fence be?

A fence may not exceed 42 inches in the front yard or six feet at the side and rear property lines.

The FAQ encourages decorative fencing material. A building permit is required for a fence greater than six feet in height. The same FAQ says a permit is required for a storage shed over 120 square feet of floor area and for a retaining wall.

Setbacks vary throughout the city. The Planning Division page provides an interactive zoning map, and owners can ask Planning about the zoning and setbacks for a particular address.

San Dimas also keeps a list of locally significant structures established through a historical survey conducted in the early 1990s. Owners can ask Planning whether a house is on that list and how its status affects the property.

If an existing fence appears taller than the published limit, its appearance alone does not show whether it was approved. General issues involving earlier improvements are discussed in How does unpermitted work affect a California disclosure?.

What should buyers and sellers check for a particular house?

Buyers and sellers should compare the city’s published rules with the tree, parking area, fence, zoning, setbacks, and possible historic status of the particular property.

For a private tree, the relevant details include its species, trunk measurement, and whether removal or relocation is proposed. For an RV, boat, camper shell, horse trailer, or utility trailer, the published conditions concern the yard location, the house building line, the concrete surface, and access to garage parking.

For a fence, the limit depends on whether it is in the front yard or at a side or rear property line. Because setbacks vary across San Dimas, the zoning map and information for the property’s address can help establish the applicable property details.

These city pages publish yard rules, but they do not say that the tree, RV, or fence provisions create a seller disclosure duty. California disclosure questions should be considered separately from whether a proposed use meets the city’s requirements.

Another San Dimas planning topic is Will San Dimas keep blocking ADUs on SB 1123 lots?.

We spoke with a San Dimas buyer who wanted enough yard space for an RV, a storage structure and a taller fence. The lot was physically large enough, but that did not mean each use could go wherever he preferred. We checked the placement, parking and fence rules with him before he treated the yard as usable space for all three plans.

The short version

San Dimas requires a Planning Division permit before a qualifying significant tree is removed or relocated. Oaks qualify at 8 inches in diameter, other species at 10 inches, and multi trunk trees have separate measurements.

RVs, boats, camper shells, horse trailers, and utility trailers generally belong behind the house building line on 3 1/2 inch concrete without blocking garage parking. Temporary loading or unloading in a paved front driveway requires a free permit and is limited to 48 hours.

Front yard fences may not exceed 42 inches, while side and rear property line fences may not exceed six feet. Setbacks vary, so check the zoning and property details before relying on the apparent yard layout.

When you are ready to assess the property, use the home value tool.