Local & Community
Indian Wells City Council to Consider Amending Tree-Trimming Ordinance
INDIAN WELLS (CNS) - In an effort to protect local wildlife and comply
with state and federal wildlife protections, the Indian Wells City Council
will consider amending the city's tree-trimming and general property-
maintenance regulations Thursday.
A section of the city's municipal code requires all landowners,
tenants, lessees and occupants adjacent to public right-of-way to either trim,
prune or maintain all trees, shrubs, grass or other plantings and to prune or
remove plants considered an obstruction or a nuisance, according to a staff
report.
Additionally, a separate section requires private landowners to
annually trim date palm trees no later than June 30 and Washingtonia palms by
July 30.
Council members were informed by wildlife biologists at the Desert
Wildlife Center in Indio that the city's mandatory annual tree-trimming dates
in June and July coincides with the annual bird-nesting season, which is
considered from Feb. 1 through Aug. 31 by the California Department of Fish and
Wildlife, and if ``unintentionally disturb or destroy active nests, eggs,
nestling, and breeding habitat'' then it could result in violations of state
and federal wildlife laws.
According to the staff report, the California Fish and Game Code
prohibits the needless destruction of bird nests and eggs, with special
protections for raptors and other protected birds while the federal Migratory
Bird Treaty Act prohibits wounding, capture, collection or other harm to more
than 1,000 covered bird species, including the destruction, movement or
relocation of in-use nests and viable eggs and hatchlings.
As a result, city staff recommends City Council to change the annual
trimming dates to a single annual deadline of Oct. 1.
The proposed ordinance states that if trimming is unavoidable during
nesting season then a qualified biologist will inspect the specified tree or
shrub to make ensure there are no in-use nests or viable eggs and fledglings
present.
Contracting a qualified biologist to inspect city-owned trees for bird
nests prior to annual tree-trimming would cost roughly $37,200 per annual
event assuming the biologist would inspect 40 trees a day over a 31-day survey
period.
If adopted, the ordinance would take effect 30 days after council
approval and city staff will conduct an education and outreach campaign
starting early next year to inform residents and landscapers of the new tree-
trimming requirements.
By: City News Service
October 13, 2026
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