{"id":23829,"date":"2025-03-26T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=23829"},"modified":"2026-03-04T22:43:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T06:43:01","slug":"tree-spacing-study-shows-path-to-cooler-neighborhoods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/tree-spacing-study-shows-path-to-cooler-neighborhoods\/","title":{"rendered":"How changing L.A.\u2019s tree rules could cool more neighborhoods"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                                    \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_Top-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_Top-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_Top-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_Top-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  role=\"none\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  A study by USC Dornsife\u2019s Spatial Sciences Institute and Public Exchange found that relaxing tree planting rules in Los Angeles could create more shade. (Composite: Letty Avila. Image sources: Flickr; Freepik.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=sustainability\">Sustainability<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>How changing L.A.\u2019s tree rules could cool more neighborhoods<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  A new USC Dornsife study finds that outdated guidelines are limiting tree growth \u2014 especially in lower-income neighborhoods \u2014 and offers a path forward.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Ileana Wachtel<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">March 26, 2025<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 4.0350274 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\n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Key points:\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n      <ul>\n              <li><p>Los Angeles has some of the strictest tree planting rules in the nation. These policies limit tree growth, worsen shade disparities and don\u2019t improve safety, researchers found.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n              <li><p>When USC Dornsife researchers modeled looser planting restrictions in a lower-income neighborhood, potential tree space increased by nearly 26%. But narrow sidewalks and dense infrastructure still limited where larger, shade trees could thrive.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n              <li><p>Many of L.A.\u2019s strict tree-spacing rules are internal guidelines \u2014 not laws \u2014 meaning they could be updated more easily to allow for more trees.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n              <li><p>Closing L.A.\u2019s shade gap, however, will require more than policy tweaks; infrastructure investments are also needed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n          <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Expansive tree canopies are crucial for healthy ecosystems and livable cities. Yet, Los Angeles\u2019 strict tree planting rules, originally meant to protect infrastructure and public safety, are now widening shade disparities, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods. A new <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/authShare\/S0169204625000520\/20250320T080400Z\/1?md5=17df9df2e585b9aeb9074375e9f9c6a5&amp;dgcid=author\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a> published in <em>Landscape and Urban Planning<\/em>, led by the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/\">Spatial Sciences Institute<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/publicexchange.usc.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Public Exchange<\/a>, both based at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, suggests that easing these decades-old restrictions could significantly grow the city\u2019s urban tree canopy \u2014 without compromising safety.<a href=\"https:\/\/sustainability.usc.edu\/assignment-earth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-169 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/AE_News_Rubric-150x150.png\" alt=\"On a gold background, &quot;Asgmt Earth&quot; appears inside a black circle and &quot;USC&quot; inside a small, white circle that slightly overlaps the black circle.\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/AE_News_Rubric-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/AE_News_Rubric-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/AE_News_Rubric-320x320.png 320w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/AE_News_Rubric-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/03\/AE_News_Rubric.png 1250w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This research builds on an earlier USC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1618866724003820\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a> comparing L.A.\u2019s municipal codes, engineering standards and urban forestry guidelines to those of 25 other cities \u2014 17 outside California and eight within the state. That study found L.A.\u2019s tree placement rules are among the nation\u2019s strictest, often limiting new planting. The team concluded that substantial changes could be made to existing tree-spacing guidelines without re-writing laws, but better coordination between city departments is essential.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFixing L.A.\u2019s rules is a step toward addressing inequities and bringing the health and ecological benefits of green infrastructure to underserved communities,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/profile\/laura-messier\/\">Laura Messier<\/a>, PhD candidate in the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/ph-d-population-health-and-place\/\">population, health and place<\/a> program at the Spatial Sciences Institute.<\/p>\n<h2>Testing looser tree spacing rules<\/h2>\n<p>To test how relaxing planting guidelines might increase tree coverage, Messier and her team compared two L.A. neighborhoods: Boyle Heights, a historically lower-income area east of downtown; and Studio City, a wealthier community in the San Fernando Valley. Both areas studied were similar in size, topography and parcel layout. But Studio City had about 3,020 trees per square mile, compared to 2,183 in Boyle Heights \u2014 a gap researchers linked to the neighborhood\u2019s denser street grid, higher concentration of multi-family housing and smaller parcels, all of which limit where trees can be planted.<\/p>\n<p>Using mapping software, the team identified obstacles like utility poles, gas lines and bus stops, then modeled potential new planting sites. They compared L.A.\u2019s current planting restrictions with more flexible guidelines in other California cities \u2014 including San Francisco, Fremont, Oakland and Anaheim \u2014 and identified infrastructure changes that could further expand tree coverage.<\/p>\n<p>The results were striking. Under L.A.\u2019s current rules, Studio City could support up to 140 trees per square mile, while Boyle Heights maxed out at 121. But with looser guidelines, the gap nearly vanished \u2014 Studio City\u2019s capacity rose to 158, while Boyle Heights jumped to 153, a 26% increase in the historically Latino neighborhood.<\/p>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_23830\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-23830\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_InStoryA_.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23830 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_InStoryA_.png\" alt=\"Line graphs show looser planting rules could bring Boyle Heights\u2019 tree density closer to Studio City\u2019s\" width=\"600\" height=\"677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_InStoryA_.png 600w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2025\/03\/Trees_SpaceStudy_InStoryA_-487x550.png 487w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-23830\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Image: Adapted from Messier et al. [2025])<\/figcaption><\/figure>Still, Boyle Heights faces challenges beyond planting guidelines. Narrow sidewalks limit the ability to plant large shade trees. Even with the same number of trees, only 34.5% in Boyle Heights could be large-canopy species, compared to 61% in Studio City.<\/p>\n<h2>Small tweaks to tree spacing make big impact<\/h2>\n<p>Even modest policy changes could open up more space for tree planting in crowded areas.<\/p>\n<p>The study found that easing restrictions near intersections could increase the number of trees in Boyle Heights by 7.6%, while relaxing rules around utility poles could add another 5.5%. Adjusting guidelines for gas lines (2.6%), streetlights (2.2%), driveways (1.4%) and other infrastructure could push the total tree gain to 26%, helping expand shade in other dense, lower-income neighborhoods.<\/p>\n<p>While planting trees at bus stops would add less than 1% to overall canopy coverage, it could make a big difference for transit riders exposed to extreme summer heat.<\/p>\n<p>A major obstacle to planting more trees is L.A.\u2019s 45-foot visibility rule at intersections, last updated in 1988. Studies show high-canopy trees don\u2019t block drivers\u2019 views, making this restriction ripe for revision.<\/p>\n<h2>Easier to change tree spacing rules than laws<\/h2>\n<p>Many of the restrictions are internal guidelines rather than laws, meaning changes could be implemented more easily. The city\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.streetsla.lacity.org\/urban-forestry-division\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urban Forestry Division<\/a> would need to update its Tree Spacing Guidelines memo, but getting agreement from other departments \u2014 such as transportation and street lighting \u2014 could still be a challenge, Messier explained.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, the study found that half the street trees in Boyle Heights and nearly 40% in Studio City don\u2019t comply with city guidelines. Yet, there\u2019s little evidence that these violations create safety or liability issues.<\/p>\n<p>Messier suggests that updating the guidelines is more practical than enforcing rules that are often ignored and seem to have little impact on safety.<\/p>\n<p>While modernizing L.A.\u2019s rules is an important step, closing the shade gap will require broader infrastructure changes. Messier and her team point to strategies like reducing street widths \u2014 known as \u201croad diets\u201d \u2014 to create more space for trees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo truly close the shade gap and ensure more equitable access to cooling and green spaces, the city must invest in infrastructure that makes room for more trees in underserved areas,\u201d Messier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Article\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/what-is-geospatial-intelligence\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >What is geospatial intelligence? A geographer explains the powerful melding of maps and data<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/prigozhin-yevgeny-putin-suspicious-demise\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Wagner group\u2019s Yevgeny Prigozhin reportedly died in private jet crash \u2014 if confirmed, it wouldn\u2019t be first time someone who crossed Putin met a suspicious demise<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/where-urban-tree-canopies-and-environmental-justice-meet\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Where urban tree canopies and environmental justice meet<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new USC Dornsife study finds that outdated guidelines are limiting tree growth \u2014 especially in lower-income neighborhoods \u2014 and offers a path forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":23832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,24,15],"tags":[70,80,60,1584],"class_list":["post-23829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-social-impact","category-sustainability","tag-academy-in-the-public-square","tag-public-exchange","tag-research","tag-usc-spatial-sciences-institute"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How changing L.A.\u2019s tree rules could cool more neighborhoods<\/title>\n<meta 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