Storm Damage and Emergency Trees in Lathrop, CA
After a storm, call your insurance company and stay away from any limb near a power line. A tree service can make the area safe and document the damage for your claim.
- Emergency storm cleanup. Winter storms and valley wind bring down limbs and whole trees.
Winter storms bring wind and wet soil, which is when weak or leaning trees tend to fail.
Keep people and tools at least 10 feet from power lines. PG&E serves most of Lathrop. River Islands gets electric service from Lathrop Irrigation District.
Lathrop rules that apply
A tree on a public street, including the parkway strip, needs written permission from the city's Public Works Director before you remove it, and the city can require a replacement tree. The city code has no rule protecting healthy trees on private lots. Call Public Works to confirm before any removal.
- No one may plant, remove, injure or interfere with a tree on a public street without written permission from the Public Works Director.
- A street tree removal permit is good for no more than 90 days after it is issued.
- A street tree removed by a property owner must be replaced with an approved tree, at the owner's cost, within 90 days of the removal permit.
- Dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees on private property can count as a public nuisance under the city's property nuisance chapter.
- The city can require trimming or removal of private trees that block street or intersection visibility, after written notice to the owner.
- Garbage service is mandatory in Lathrop. The green cart takes grass, tree trimmings, pruning, leaves, brush and weeds, but not dirt, rocks, concrete or tree stumps.
- Tree work contractors in California should hold a CSLB tree service license (C-61/D49 classification). Check any license on the CSLB site.
Questions
Should the tree company have a license?
California licenses tree service contractors under the C-61/D49 classification. Look up any company on the CSLB website before you hire, and ask for proof of insurance.