| Exemptions |
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Dead, dying or diseased trees an official inspects and reports in writing as hazardous; trees fallen or damaged in disasters. Applies: Exemption from the oak tree rules (Oak Resources chapter).
§ 130.39.050 · code textDead, dying, or diseased trees inspected by an investigative official as defined in Section 8.09.030 of this Code (Hazardous Vegetation and Defensible Space) and documented in writing to the Planning and Building Department that said tree(s) constitute hazardous vegetation pursuant to Section 8.09 of this Code. -
Exempt: fire safe activities and fuel modification outside defensible space. Applies: Work under an approved WUI Fire Safe Plan, Community Wildfire Protection Plan, or defensible-space upkeep; first-time defensible space for new development is not exempt.
§ 130.39.050 · code textActions taken pursuant to an approved WUI Fire Safe Plan to protect existing structures, a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, or in accordance with maintenance of defensible space as identified in PRC Section 4291 or Chapter 8.09 of this Code are exempt from the permit requirements included in this Chapter. -
Exempt: emergency firefighting, natural-disaster response, and related post-fire or post-disaster cleanup. Applies: Exempt from oak tree permit rules only; impacts to heritage trees, individual valley oaks and valley oak woodlands still need mitigation.
§ 130.39.050 · code textActions taken during emergency firefighting operations or responses to natural disasters (e.g., floods, landslides, avalanches, etc.) and associated post-fire or post-disaster remediation activities are exempted from the permit requirements included in this Chapter. -
Exempt: personal or commercial farming, but not commercial firewood operations or ranch marketing. Applies: Oak tree permit rules; not uses needing a conditional use permit. Impacts to heritage trees, individual valley oaks and valley oak woodlands still need mitigation.
§ 130.39.050 · code textAgricultural cultivation/operations, whether for personal or commercial purposes (excluding commercial firewood operations and ranch marketing); -
Exempt: tree removal allowed under a Timber Harvest Plan approved by CAL FIRE. Applies: Exempt from oak tree permit rules only; impacts to heritage trees, individual valley oaks and valley oak woodlands still need mitigation.
§ 130.39.050 · code textTree removal permitted under a Timber Harvest Plan approved by CAL FIRE is exempted from the permit requirements included in this Chapter. -
Exempt: minor trimming that follows current ANSI standards. Applies: Exempt from oak tree permit rules only; impacts to heritage trees, individual valley oaks and valley oak woodlands still need mitigation.
§ 130.39.050 · code textMinor trimming, as defined within this Chapter, and conforming to the most current standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
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| Permit to remove |
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Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Oak trees and oak woodlands: any non-exempt activity with confirmed oak impacts; an oak woodland removal permit if 2 or more acres are impacted.
§ 130.39.060 · code textAn oak tree and/or oak woodland removal permit shall be required for all non-exempt activities with confirmed impacts to oak resources. -
No county permission to remove oaks for the listed exempt activities, each with its own limits. Applies: Oak trees only. Heritage trees, individual valley oaks and valley oak woodlands stay under the oak plan, except dead, dying, diseased, hazardous or disaster-damaged trees.
§ 130.39.050 · code textAlthough County permission is not required to remove oak trees for the activities listed below, property owner documentation of oak removal is strongly encouraged.
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| Protected trees |
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Any impact to heritage trees, valley oaks and valley oak woodlands needs mitigation, even without a development permit. Applies: Does not apply to dead, dying or diseased trees, disaster-damaged trees, or hazardous vegetation.
§ 130.39.050 · code textWith the exception of dead, dying, and diseased trees, trees that have fallen or sustained damage due to natural disasters/incidents or trees considered hazardous vegetation pursuant to Section 8.09 of this Code (Hazardous Vegetation and Defensible Space), all impacts to heritage trees, individual valley oak trees, and valley oak woodlands shall be subject to the provisions and mitigation requirements contained in the ORMP
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| Replacement trees |
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Mitigation is required. Options are an in-lieu fee, on-site or off-site replanting, or a mix. Applies: Native oaks affected by a permit. Streamlined housing must pay the fee. Exempt: hazard, insurance, and non-heritage personal-use removals (8 trees, 140 inches a year).
§ 130.39.070 · code textIf individual native oak trees, including heritage trees, will be impacted as part of the permit, the applicant shall mitigate for loss of individual tree(s). -
Mitigation at a ratio of 1:1, 1.5:1, or 2:1. Applies: Oak woodland removal; the ratio depends on the share of oak woodland impacted: 0–50%, 50.1–75%, or 75.1–100%.
§ 130.39.070 · code text| 0—50% | 1:1 |
| 50.1—75% | 1.5:1 |
| 75.1—100% | 2:1 | -
Per inch of trunk diameter removed: 3 acorns; or trees: 2 in 1-gallon, 1.5 in 5-gallon, 1 in 15-gallon pots. Applies: Individual native oak trees removed, when replacement planting is chosen.
§ 130.39.070 · code text| 1-gallon/tree pot 4 | 2 |
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