How to apply for a tree removal permit in Riverside, California

A 5-step walkthrough drawn from Riverside's tree-protection ordinance. For the underlying DBH thresholds, protected-species list, and full fee schedule, see the city ordinance page.

Expected processing time: 6-12 weeks. Plan removal timing accordingly — emergency-tree provisions may differ.

  1. 1

    Determine if your tree is regulated

    Trees at or above 2" DBH (diameter at breast height) are regulated. 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. Heritage / landmark designation: 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.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

    Eligible applicants in Riverside: Property owner or authorized agent with ISA Certified Arborist report.

  3. 3

    Prepare your assessment report

    Your assessment report must include: Tree inventory with species, DBH, canopy dripline, health/condition, impact analysis, tree protection measures, mitigation plan. Required certifications: ISA Certified Arborist.

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

    Submit your application and assessment report to Planning Department. Typical processing time: 6-12 weeks. Reference the full ordinance at https://planning.rctlma.org/riverside-county-oak-tree-management-guidelines.

    View the full Riverside ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    Replacement ratio: 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.

Where to file

Planning Department

Other California permit walkthroughs

See California replacement obligations compared — how Riverside's replacement ratio ranks against the rest of the state.

See California heritage criteria compared — how Riverside's designation rules stack against the rest of the state.

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Riverside permit?

Capture an ISA TRAQ Level 1, 2, or 3 assessment in the field and export a municipality-ready PDF that fits Riverside's required report sections. Free, no account required.

Start a TRAQ assessment