Concrete Maintenance

As neighborhoods age, existing concrete infrastructure can feel the strain of time. It is the Street Maintenance Division’s Concrete Crews that take whole neighborhoods at a time and repair these damaged infrastructures.

Sidewalk Patching
It is policy of the Street Maintenance Division to repair locations by whole neighborhoods at a time. Until then to keep walkways safe, Street Maintenance will place down a temporary patch to keep any raise from becoming a tripping hazard.

Sidewalk, Curb, and Gutter Replacement

Sidewalks, curbs and gutters are replaced as needed from one edge of a neighborhood to the other. Street Maintenance works with homeowners as best as possible during renovation but during that time it may be necessary to shut water off to the sprinkler system temporarily.

In accordance with the Fresno Municipal Code  Section 13-217, the COF assigns responsibility for sidewalk maintenance to the fronting property owner. The property owner is not responsible for the repair of the sidewalk fronting his or her property when the damage is caused by City tree.

Curb Ramps
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Fresno regularly replaces non-compliant curb ramps as needed to ensure those that need these ramps have mobility in the city.

Road Maintenance

Pothole and Sinkhole Repair
Street Maintenance crews repair potholes that form in the street from traffic and water erosion.  When reporting potholes, provide specific location details so the pothole can be repaired as fast as possible.

Traffic Hazard Clearing

Street Maintenance crews are available 24 hours a day to respond to debris, spills, and other major traffic hazards to ensure traffic can safely pass. Crews do not pick up illegal dumping in front of a residence or property and only clear the pathway for traffic. Report items that are dumped illegally and are not traffic hazards by calling (559) 621-CITY.

Maintaining Storm Drains and City Ponding Basins
With debris in gutters, drain inlets sometimes get clogged and begin to flood the surrounding areas. The Street Maintenance Division has the equipment to clear the city’s drains and ensure inlets are clean to receive water. Street Maintenance also maintains certain city ponding basins.

Overlay and Slurry
The Street Maintenance Division has a limited street overlay program for resurfacing roadways on major streets. Slurry seal may also be used to extend the life of the roadway

Lighting and Signals

Street Maintenance’s Street Light crews ensure that traffic signals are working and that the roads in Fresno are illuminated.

Traffic Signals
Street Maintenance maintains traffic signals so that there is safe traffic flow in the city of Fresno. Crews respond to lights flashing red, signals not detecting traffic, and other signal malfunctions and are available 24 hours a day.

Street Lights
Street maintenance utilizes public reports of street light outages for maintaining street lights. When reporting a street light problem be prepared with the following information:

• Location of the street light
• 3 to 6 digit number facing the street about 8 feet up the street light pole
• How the street light is malfunctioning
• Your name and phone number in case of any questions.

If you wish to report a traffic signal or street light outage call (559) 621-CITY.

Traffic Paint & Sign

The Street Maintenance Division’s Paint and Sign crews make sure all roadway paint—crosswalks, turn lanes, painted curbs, etc.—and all traffic signs—stop signs, no parking signs, street name signs, etc.—are visible for the public to safely travel.

Signs Down
Signs can fall due to high winds, vandalism, or accidents. Upon notification, crews can be dispatched as soon as possible to restand, or replace any traffic signs that are down.

Graffiti
The paint used to make traffic signs can be damaged when normal graffiti removal techniques are used. While any other graffiti is handled by the graffiti abatement department, traffic signs are handled by the sign crew.
Traffic Paint

Over time, paint fades and could use a fresh coat. Conditions permitting, crews are able to refresh the look of worn out crosswalks, lane controls, and curb painting. Street Maintenance’s Paint and Sign crew only repaints what is already there.

To report any issues with roadway paint or city signs call (559) 621-CITY.

Street Trees & Forestry

Fresno’s urban forest refers to all trees and vegetation within the urban area, both public and private. Generally, only about 20 percent of the urban forest is comprised of public trees. The vast majority is under private care in residential yards. Our focus is on planting, protecting, and maintaining trees located in the city right-of-way, parks and public spaces, including:

• Plant, maintain, prune and remove public City street trees
• Issue permits to prune and or remove public City street trees
• Review pre-development plans and landscape plans that involve public trees

A “City street tree” is a tree planted in the City right of way, typically in landscape strips between the curb and the front of the sidewalk or in an otherwise dedicated planting area within the City right-of-way.

Emergencies
Landscape Maintenance Division Tree Crews are available 24 hours a day for all tree emergencies such as limbs down, broken and hanging limbs, split trees, down trees and other street tree events that require immediate attention. To report a tree emergency, please call (559) 621-CITY.

Tree Trimming
Landscape Maintenance Division Tree crews trim all street trees in the City of Fresno by square 1/4-mile sections at a time. With over 400 sections it takes tree crews more than 16 years to trim the entire city one time.

Homeowners may trim away any limbs that can be reached from the ground without the use of a ladder or chainsaw. Pole pruners and loppers are acceptable tools for homeowners to use for pruning trees.

If Homeowner wishes to have a tree completely trimmed out of trim cycle, they may do so by obtaining a free permit or by requesting one be mailed to you by calling (559) 621-CITY. The work performed must be done by a licensed tree trimmer. All costs of the out of scheduled trim are the responsibility of the homeowner.

Root Removal
The City of Fresno does not have a root pruning program in place for street trees. If the homeowner wishes to, they may remove any roots further than four feet from the trunk or any roots that enter the private property without a permit. Root problems that exist in the sewer or water lateral lines are the homeowner’s responsibility to clear.

Tree Removals

Only dead trees or those deemed immediate safety issues by Landscape Maintenance Division Licensed Arborists are removed from the right-of-way as soon as possible. It shall be the city’s policy to utilize whatever techniques, methods, and procedures required to preserve, whenever feasible, all trees in the city including, but not limited to, trees which are affecting surface improvements or underground facilities, or which are diseased or located where construction is being considered or will occur.  If the Landscape Maintenance Division’s Arborist determines that a street tree does meet removal criteria, it will be removed at no expense to the homeowner. If the homeowner wishes not to wait for crews to remove a street tree that meets removal criteria, a permit can be obtained by downloading the form below. Please note that all tree removal or maintenance will occur under the direction of a certified arborist and completed by a licensed contractor.  Tree removal or maintenance must adhere to standards issued by the International Society of Arboriculture.

All removal requests are evaluated and approved by one of the Landscape Maintenance Division’s licensed Arborist, per Fresno Municipal Code 13-305.   A property owner can request a removal of a tree in good health, or one that becomes unwanted or burdensome by submitting a Tree Removal permit for consideration.  This allows for the street tree to be removed and replaced with an appropriate tree species at the property owner’s expense or alternatively to pay an in-lieu fee into a Tree Trust Fund as outlined in the Fresno Municipal Code 13-310.

Trees on the Special Tree List in Section of the Fresno Municipal Code Section 13-306 or otherwise determined to be protected by the City are not eligible for removal or replacement.

Tree Permits

• Forestry Request Tree Removal, Planting, or Pruning
• Forestry – City Approved Trees June 2022

For additional assistance, please email [email protected].

Median, Trail, Park, and Buffer Maintenance

Street Maintenance maintains median islands and buffers about every 90 days. For certain major arterial median islands, maintenance occurs more often, about every 60 days.

Regular maintenance includes weed abatement and litter control. Manual labor and a variety of weed abatement methods are used to assist with keeping the weeds tame throughout the year.

As crews maintain median islands or buffers, low tree limbs may be removed to keep traffic and pedestrians safe. Any tree limbs entering private property will not be trimmed by the city and considered the responsibility of the homeowner to trim.

Consistent with the Governor’s order, irrigation to turf medians has been discontinued effective June 2015.