California Tree Ordinances
Tree removal permits, protected species, and statute citations for 50 California cities.
California tree regulation in plain terms
California has no statewide tree removal statute. Authority sits with cities and counties, and every jurisdiction writes its own ordinance — that's why a 12" Oak in Palo Alto needs a permit and the same tree in Stockton doesn't.
What unifies the state is the "heritage" or "landmark" tree tradition. Most California coastal and foothill cities designate a specific oak, redwood, or native species as protected regardless of size. If you're in the Bay Area or coastal Southern California, assume the tree is protected until the ordinance says otherwise. CEQA also kicks in for trees on public land or projects over certain acreage thresholds.
Cities with published ordinances (50)
Anaheim
Orange County
Berkeley
Alameda County
Beverly Hills
Los Angeles County
Burbank
Los Angeles County
Campbell
Santa Clara County
Carlsbad
San Diego County
Claremont
Los Angeles County
Concord
Contra Costa County
Cupertino
Santa Clara County
Davis
Yolo County
Dublin
Alameda County
Elk Grove
Sacramento County
Folsom
Sacramento County
Fremont
Alameda County
Fresno
Fresno County
Glendale
Los Angeles County
Hayward
Alameda County
Irvine
Orange County
Long Beach
Los Angeles County
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
Los Gatos
Santa Clara County
Menlo Park
San Mateo County
Mountain View
Santa Clara County
Oakland
Alameda County
Palo Alto
Santa Clara County
Pasadena
Los Angeles County
Pleasanton
Alameda County
Redwood City
San Mateo County
Riverside
Riverside County
Roseville
Placer County
Sacramento
Sacramento County
San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
San Diego
San Diego County
San Francisco
San Francisco County
San Jose
Santa Clara County
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County
San Mateo
San Mateo County
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County
Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County
Santa Monica
Los Angeles County
Saratoga
Santa Clara County
Simi Valley
Ventura County
Stockton
San Joaquin County
Sunnyvale
Santa Clara County
Thousand Oaks
Ventura County
Torrance
Los Angeles County
Ventura
Ventura County
Walnut Creek
Contra Costa County
West Hollywood
Los Angeles County
California statutes and primary sources
Frequent questions about California tree rules
Does California have a statewide tree removal permit?
No. Tree removal permits are handled by individual cities and counties. The state's role through CEQA is limited to environmental review of larger projects and public land.
What is a heritage or landmark tree in California?
A tree designated as culturally or ecologically significant by a city ordinance. Heritage trees typically require a separate permit to remove, need arborist justification, and often carry higher replacement ratios than standard protected trees.
Which species are commonly protected across California cities?
Coast live oak, valley oak, blue oak, California black oak, coast redwood, giant sequoia, and California bay laurel. Many cities add Monterey cypress and Monterey pine in coastal jurisdictions. The exact list varies by city.
Do I need an ISA Certified Arborist for a California tree report?
Most cities require ISA Certified Arborist credentials on removal applications for protected or heritage trees. A few accept California-registered consulting arborists or landscape architects. Check the specific city's ordinance before filing.
Are tree replacement fees standard across California?
No. Replacement ratios range from 1:1 (most common) to 3:1 for heritage trees. In-lieu fees when replanting isn't feasible run $250 to $1,500 per tree depending on the city.
Need a tree report for a California city?
Start your free TRAQ assessment — we guide you through the specific permit your city needs.