Davis Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide
Yolo County, California
Protected Tree Definition
Protected Tree: any tree on public property, all street trees regardless of size, and designated Landmark Trees on private property. Native oaks, Valley Oak, and other heritage native species 5+ inches DBH protected city-wide on development sites.
Protected Species
Heritage / Landmark Trees
Landmark Trees designated by City Council or Tree Commission for exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical association, or community value. Tree City USA community since 1978.
Permit Requirements
Tree Removal Permit required from Public Works for any street tree, public tree, or Landmark Tree. Private development projects must submit a Tree Preservation Plan and arborist report for any protected native tree.
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 Trees and heritage native oaks
Replacement species from approved Davis Street Tree List; 15-gallon minimum container size. In-lieu fees to the Urban Forestry Fund when on-site replanting is infeasible.
Fees & Fines
Processing Time
3-6 weeks
Required Certifications
ISA Certified Arborist
Municipal Code
Davis Municipal Code Chapter 37 (Trees)
View full ordinanceContact
Public Works Department
Other California cities
Compare with nearby cities
Data last verified: April 2026. This information is provided as a reference. Always verify requirements directly with Davis before submitting permits or reports.
Ready to apply? How to apply for a permit in Davis →
See California replacement obligations compared: How Davis's replacement ratio ranks in California →
See California heritage criteria compared: How Davis's heritage designation ranks in California →
Need an arborist report for Davis?
Start your free TRAQ tree risk assessment — designed for Davis's specific permit requirements.