Riverside Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide

Riverside County, California

Verified

Protected Tree Definition

2.0" DBH minimum for protection

City Heritage Trees designated by Council, all trees on public property and street trees regardless of size. County Oak Tree Ordinance (Ord. 559) protects native oaks 2+ inches DBH on parcels over 0.5 acres at 5,000+ feet elevation in unincorporated Riverside County.

Protected Species

Engelmann Oak Coast Live Oak Valley Oak Interior Live Oak California Black Oak Mesa Oak (county ordinance); city street tree species

Heritage / Landmark Trees

Heritage Trees designated by City Council for exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical association, or community value. County oaks automatically protected at the size threshold.

Permit Requirements

Tree Removal Permit required for city Heritage Trees and all public/street trees. County Oak Tree Permit required for qualifying oak removal in unincorporated areas. Development projects require arborist report and mitigation plan.

Who can apply: Property owner or authorized agent with ISA Certified Arborist report

Required Report Sections

Tree inventory with species, DBH, canopy dripline, health/condition, impact analysis, tree protection measures, mitigation plan

Replacement Requirements

3:1 for native oaks under county ordinance; 2:1 for city Heritage Trees; 1:1 for street trees

Replacement oaks must be grown from locally-sourced acorns where feasible; 15-gallon minimum. In-lieu fees accepted when on-site replanting is infeasible.

Fees & Fines

Processing Time

6-12 weeks

Required Certifications

ISA Certified Arborist

Municipal Code

Riverside County Ordinance 559 (Oak Tree Management); Riverside Municipal Code Title 13 (Streets, Sidewalks)

View full ordinance

Contact

Planning Department

Other California cities

Beverly Hills Claremont Fremont Fresno Oakland San Mateo Santa Cruz Ventura
See all California cities →

Compare with nearby cities

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

Ready to apply? How to apply for a permit in Riverside →

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

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

Need an arborist report for Riverside?

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

Start Free TRAQ Assessment