How to apply for a tree removal permit in Santa Barbara, California

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

Expected processing time: 4-8 weeks. Plan removal timing accordingly — emergency-tree provisions may differ.

  1. 1

    Determine if your tree is regulated

    City Tree Preservation Ordinance protects all public/street trees and designated Specimen and Historic trees on private property. Santa Barbara County Oak Tree Protection Ordinance protects native oaks on agricultural-zoned land outside the Coastal Zone. Heritage / landmark designation: Specimen Trees and Historic Trees designated by the Street Tree Advisory Committee or Council for exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical significance, or community value.

  2. 2

    Determine who must apply

    Eligible applicants in Santa Barbara: Property owner, adjacent property owner (for parkway trees), or authorized agent with arborist report.

  3. 3

    Prepare your assessment report

    Your assessment report must include: Species identification, DBH, health and structural assessment, justification for removal, photo documentation, replacement plan, arborist findings. Required certifications: ISA Certified Arborist.

  4. 4

    Submit to the permitting department

    Submit your application and assessment report to Parks and Recreation Department. Typical processing time: 4-8 weeks. Reference the full ordinance at https://ecode360.com/44106149.

    View the full Santa Barbara ordinance

  5. 5

    Plan for replacement obligations

    Replacement ratio: 1:1 minimum for street trees; 2:1 or higher for Specimen/Historic and protected oaks. 15-gallon to 24-inch box replacement from approved street tree or native species list. In-lieu fees to the Urban Forestry Fund when on-site replanting is infeasible.

Where to file

Parks and Recreation Department

Other California permit walkthroughs

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

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

Compare with nearby cities

Need an arborist report for your Santa Barbara permit?

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

Start a TRAQ assessment