Burbank Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide

Los Angeles County, California

Verified

Protected Tree Definition

6.0" DBH minimum for protection

Protected Tree: all street trees and trees on public property regardless of size; native trees (oaks, California sycamore, California bay) 6+ inches DBH on private property; Landmark and Heritage trees designated by City Council.

Protected Species

California Live Oak Valley Oak California Sycamore California Bay California Black Walnut

Heritage / Landmark Trees

Landmark Trees and Heritage Trees designated by City Council based on exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical association, aesthetic significance, or community value.

Permit Requirements

Tree Removal Permit required for any street tree, public tree, or protected private tree. Landmark tree removal requires Council review with public notice.

Who can apply: Property owner, adjacent property owner (for parkway trees), or authorized agent with arborist report

Required Report Sections

Species identification, DBH, health and structural assessment, justification for removal, photo documentation, replacement plan

Replacement Requirements

1:1 minimum for street trees; 2:1 or higher for Landmark/Heritage trees

Replacement species from approved Parks and Recreation list; 15-gallon minimum container size. In-lieu fees to the Urban Forestry Fund when on-site replanting is infeasible.

Fees & Fines

Processing Time

4-6 weeks

Required Certifications

ISA Certified Arborist

Municipal Code

Burbank Municipal Code Chapter 7-2 (Street Trees) and Title 10 (Development Standards)

View full ordinance

Contact

Parks and Recreation Department

(818) 238-5300

Nearby Cities in Los Angeles County

Other California cities

Compare with nearby cities

Data last verified: April 2026. This information is provided as a reference. Always verify requirements directly with Burbank before submitting permits or reports.

See California replacement obligations compared: How Burbank's replacement ratio ranks in California →

See California heritage criteria compared: How Burbank's heritage designation ranks in California →

Need an arborist report for Burbank?

Start your free TRAQ tree risk assessment — designed for Burbank's specific permit requirements.