Thousand Oaks Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide

Ventura County, California

Verified

Protected Tree Definition

2.0" DBH minimum for protection

Oak Tree Preservation Ordinance protects all oak trees 2+ inches DBH (single trunk) or 4+ inches DBH aggregate (multi-trunk). Heritage Oaks (36+ inches DBH) receive enhanced protection. California Sycamore and other native trees also protected.

Protected Species

Valley Oak Coast Live Oak Scrub Oak California Black Oak Canyon Live Oak California Sycamore

Heritage / Landmark Trees

Heritage Oaks: any oak tree 36+ inches DBH. Additional Heritage designation by Council for exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical association, or community value.

Permit Requirements

Oak Tree Permit required for removal, relocation, or encroachment within the protected zone of any oak. Heritage Oak removal requires additional Council/Planning Commission review with public notice.

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 during construction, replacement/mitigation plan

Replacement Requirements

2:1 for oaks; 10:1 or inch-for-inch mitigation for Heritage Oaks

Replacement oaks grown from locally-collected acorns where feasible; 15-gallon minimum. In-lieu fees of approximately $500 per inch DBH to the Oak Tree Preservation Fund when on-site replanting is infeasible.

Fees & Fines

Processing Time

6-10 weeks

Required Certifications

ISA Certified Arborist

Municipal Code

Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Chapter 5 Article 31 (Oak Tree Preservation)

View full ordinance

Contact

Community Development Department

Nearby Cities in Ventura County

Simi Valley Ventura

Other California cities

Concord Davis Menlo Park Pleasanton Redwood City Riverside Santa Monica Walnut Creek
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 Thousand Oaks before submitting permits or reports.

Ready to apply? How to apply for a permit in Thousand Oaks →

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

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

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