A San Francisco homeowner has been hit with tens of thousands of dollars in fines after trimming trees outside his house, a situation he says began when he tried to meet requirements from his insurance company.
Paul Dennes, who lives in the city’s Panhandle neighborhood, cut back several large trees along the sidewalk in front of his property. According to Dennes, the branches had grown so much that they were brushing against his house and reaching into overhead power lines. He said he decided to trim them after receiving notice from his insurance broker that the trees needed to be cut back in order for the home to qualify for coverage.
Dennes explained that he wanted to create enough distance between the trees and the structure, and also avoid potential problems with the nearby electrical lines. His family has owned the property since 1988, and he said he believed the trees were part of his property because he had never seen city crews maintain them.
However, the city later issued citations related to the work he had done. Starting in December of last year, San Francisco began fining Dennes for the trimming. The penalties eventually totaled $50,000.
City officials said the work amounted to “topping” the trees, a method of cutting that can significantly damage them and reduce their lifespan. Authorities determined that the trimming caused enough harm that five of the trees ultimately had to be removed. The city assessed a $10,000 fine for each tree.
Dennes said he was shocked when he learned about the penalties, describing the situation as overwhelming and saying the fines felt unfair.
A certified arborist, Christopher Campbell, reviewed the situation and told ABC 7 that the financial penalties appeared excessive. Campbell also noted that San Francisco changed its tree maintenance policies in 2017. Prior to that, homeowners were responsible for maintaining trees in front of their properties, but the city later assumed that responsibility and now spends more than $19 million each year on tree maintenance.
Dennes said he was unaware of that policy change and believes the city never made the rules clear to him.
Campbell explained that even when trees are located on private property, permits are often required before trimming them. Trees that exceed certain measurements—such as a trunk diameter over 12 inches, a height of 20 feet, or a spread of 15 feet—are classified as “significant trees” and receive special protection.
After a more senior inspector reviewed the case, San Francisco reduced the total fine. City officials also said the amount could be lowered further if Dennes agrees to follow a structured plan for future tree care.
According to San Francisco Public Works, the fine would be reduced to $6,475 if the homeowner hires a certified arborist to manage proper pruning of the affected trees over the next five years. Officials said the purpose of the plan is to improve the health of the trees and extend their lifespan.
Even with the reductions, Dennes says he still feels the penalties are unjust, maintaining that he acted without knowing the rules and simply tried to meet the requirements needed to insure his home.