The Ultimate Guide to Root Barriers for Sewer Pipes

You noticed the street tree in front of your Lakewood home is rubbing against the roof, a limb is cracked after last week’s wind, or the sidewalk is lifting. Before you grab a saw or call a random tree service, stop—every tree planted between the sidewalk and curb is city property. Trimming it yourself can trigger fines and, worse, irreversible damage. By the end of this guide you will know exactly how Lakewood’s urban-forest system works, what the city will and won’t handle, and the fastest way to get a certified crew on-site without spending your own money. Michael J. Hartman, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, walks you through the process he has watched unfold for three decades across Southern California municipal contracts.

Why Parkway Trees Belong to the City, Not You

Lakewood’s municipal code designates the parkway—the strip of soil between sidewalk and street—as part of the public right-of-way. When the city plants a tree in that zone, it becomes a public asset managed by the Public Works Department. That legal status gives the city both the responsibility for maintenance and the authority to set pruning standards. Residents who unilaterally cut or shape a parkway tree violate Chapter 12.20 and can be billed for restoration or pipe replacement if the tree dies. From an arboriculture standpoint, the rule protects tree health: untrained pruning creates entry courts for decay fungi, disrupts the natural canopy architecture, and can shorten a tree’s life by 30–50 percent.

Beyond legality, city ownership simplifies liability. If a properly maintained city tree fails and damages your car, Lakewood’s insurance carrier handles the claim. If you “top” the same tree and a regrowth limb snaps, the liability shifts to you. Understanding that single fact keeps homeowners out of small-claims court.

How Lakewood’s Maintenance Cycle Actually Works

West Coast Arborists, the city’s tree-service contractor, trims every street tree on a roughly four-year rotation. Faster-growing species such as Brisbane box and Chinese elm may see a crew every 30–36 months; slow growers like live oak can stretch to five years. The schedule is data-driven: each tree is tagged with an inventory number, and pruning priorities are ranked by growth rate, clearance conflicts, and past defect reports. That means your perception of “urgent” may not match the city’s risk algorithm.

If your tree has not been pruned in three years, that is normal, not neglect. However, if a branch is cracked, hanging, or touching a utility line, it jumps to the top of the queue.

What the City Will—and Won’t—Fix

Lakewood’s arborist staff handles limb removal, canopy elevation for traffic sight-lines, deadwood extraction, and root-sidewalk conflicts that pose tripping hazards. They will remove a city tree only if it is more than 50 percent dead, has an irreparable structural defect, or is causing repeated infrastructure failure despite root pruning. They do not thin interiors for “light enhancement,” perform aesthetic shaping, or pick up leaves in the fall. They also will not intervene on private-property trees, even when branches overhang the parkway.

When any of these conditions exist, document the defect with a phone photo before you call; the image uploads directly into the service-request system and speeds verification.

How to File a Service Request: Phone, Email, or Online

Public Works uses a single portal for all tree issues. Start at the city’s Tree maintenance page or email service1@lakewoodca.gov. Include the exact address, cross-street, and a short description: “Large elm at 6542 Clover St., north side, has 6-inch diameter limb cracked at crotch over sidewalk.” Attach your photo. You will receive a ticket number; save it. If the hazard is imminent—limb dangling over a driveway—call 562-866-9771 ext. 2140 during business hours or Police Dispatch after hours for immediate barricading.

Most requests are inspected within five business days. If the city confirms a hazard, a work order is cut to West Coast Arborists within 48 hours.

What Happens After You Report: Inspection to Completion

After the arborist inspection you will see one of four outcomes: immediate priority (crew within 24 hours), scheduled pruning (30–60 days), monitoring (inspect again in one year), or “no action needed.” A door hanger is left explaining the decision. If pruning is scheduled, orange dots are sprayed on the limbs to be removed; those marks coordinate with the crew’s work order. You do not need to be home, but keep vehicles clear of the parkway on trimming day. Wood larger than 4 inches in diameter is removed; smaller brush is chipped and blown back onto the planting strip as mulch.

Completion times vary by season; winter storms can push routine jobs back two to three weeks.

Neighbor Conflicts and Parkway Trees

Disputes arise when a neighbor’s private tree overhangs the parkway or when a city tree drops debris on a driveway. Remember: Lakewood will not compel a private-property owner to trim encroaching growth. You may, at your own expense, prune back to the property line, but only if the work does not harm the rest of the tree. Topping a neighbor’s sweetgum that arches over the sidewalk is still topping, still illegal, and still makes you liable. The city will, however, remove a city tree branch that crosses into your yard if it meets pruning criteria.

When in doubt, open a service request and let the city arborist mediate.

Preparing for the Crew: What You Can (and Can’t) Do

While you cannot touch the tree, you can speed the job by clearing toys, basketball hoops, and parked cars from the parkway and the lane next to it. Lower any sprinkler heads that protrude above soil to avoid mower damage. If you have newly poured concrete within 6 ft of the trunk, flag it so the crew can lower chipper chutes gently. Dogs should be inside; the chipper produces 95 dB at 10 ft. Finally, record the ticket number on your calendar—if regrowth requires attention before the next cycle, reference the old number to show prior work.

Leave climbing, chainsaws, and chippers to the ISA-certified crew supplied under contract.

When to Escalate: Appeals and Emergency Situations

If the inspection concludes “no action” and you believe the tree is an imminent hazard, you can appeal to the City Engineer within 10 days. Provide an independent assessment from a certified arborist (written report plus photos). Lakewood will reimburse up to $250 of that cost if the appeal is upheld. For after-hours emergencies—a tree blocking the roadway or resting on a house—call 911; Police Dispatch will radio Public Works for emergency contract crews. Keep receipts for any temporary repairs such as tarping a roof; you can file a claim against the city if the tree was previously reported and not addressed.

What to Do Next

Open your phone, take a photo of the parkway tree issue, and file a service request today using the city’s online portal or by emailing service1@lakewoodca.gov with the address and description. Save the ticket number and expect an inspection within a week. Do not attempt to prune or remove tree roots yourself—let Lakewood’s contracted arborists handle the work at no cost while you stay liability-free. If the tree is on private property but affects the parkway, consult a certified arborist before you cut, and always verify contractor licenses through the California Contractors State License Board. Your quick, accurate report keeps Lakewood’s urban canopy healthy, safe, and properly maintained for everyone.