Tree removal in Rancho Cucamonga: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Rancho Cucamonga's code says

Rancho Cucamonga code What Rancho Cucamonga's code adds
Exemptions	Exempt: fruit- or nut-bearing trees. Applies: Applies to trees that bear fruit or nuts. § 17.16.080 · code text Trees which are fruit or nut bearing. Exempt: trees the public works director finds will damage existing public improvements. Applies: Applies to trees that will damage existing public improvements. § 17.16.080 · code text Trees that, in the opinion of the director of public works services, or designee, will cause damage to existing public improvements. Exempt: trees needing maintenance or removal to protect existing power or communication lines or other utility property. Applies: Applies to protecting existing power or communication lines or other public utility property. § 17.16.080 · code text Trees that require maintenance or removal action for the protection of existing electrical power or communication lines or other property of a public utility. Exempt: trees in a designated urban wildlife interface area. Applies: Applies in a designated urban wildlife interface area. § 17.16.080 · code text Trees within a designated urban wildlife interface area. An emergency waiver may apply when the planning director finds a tree dangerous and needing emergency action. Applies: Applies to a dangerous condition needing emergency action. § 17.16.080 · code text Where the planning director determines a tree to be in a dangerous condition requiring emergency action to preserve the public heal
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required, but there is no fee. Applies: Applies to a heritage tree shown dead by visual evidence or a qualified arborist's report. § 17.16.080 · code text If it is demonstrated by the applicant that a tree proposed for removal is dead by providing visual evidence and/or an arborist report prepared by a qualified arborist, then a permit is required but no fee will be assessed. Yes. A permit is required. Applies: Heritage trees in city limits: removing, relocating, topping by more than 25% of original height, or destroying. § 17.16.080 · code text No person, firm, or corporation shall remove, relocate, reduce in height by more than 25 percent of the original height of the tree (by "topping"), or destroy any heritage tree within the city limits, including an applicant for a building permit, without first obtaining a tree removal permit from the planning director. Yes. A tree removal permit and a certificate of compliance are required. Applies: Applies to trees designated as historic landmarks. § 17.16.080 · code text No tree designated as a historic landmark shall be altered, removed, relocated, or destroyed by any person, firm, or corporation without first obtaining both a certificate of compliance and a tree removal permit.
Protected trees	Any tree over 30 feet tall with a single trunk diameter of 20 inches or more, measured 4.5 feet up. Applies: Applies to single-family residential property. § 17.16.080 · code text Any tree on single family residential property in excess of 30 feet in height and having a single trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) of 20 inches or more as measured four and one-half feet from ground level Any tree over 15 feet tall with a single trunk diameter of 20 inches or more, measured 4.5 feet up. Applies: Applies to multi-family residential and mixed-use property. § 17.16.080 · code text Any tree on multi-family residential and mixed-use property in excess of 15 feet in height and having a single trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) of 20 inches or more as measured four and one-half feet from ground level Multi-trunk trees with a total trunk diameter of 30 inches or more, measured 4.5 feet up. Applies: Applies to multi-trunk trees. § 17.16.080 · code text Multi-trunk trees having a total diameter at breast height (DBH) of 30 inches or more as measured four and one-half feet from ground level A stand of trees that depend on each other to survive. Applies: Applies to stands of trees that depend on one another. § 17.16.080 · code text A stand of trees the nature of which makes each dependent upon the others for survival Any other tree the planning director finds historically or culturally significant for its age, size, condition, location or beauty. Applies: Applies to trees the planning director finds historically or culturally significant. § 17.16.080 · code text Any other tree as may be deemed historically or culturally significant by the planning director because of age, size, condition, location, or aesthetic qualities.
Replacement trees	Replace with an equal or greater number of trees, in species and quantity matching the removed trees' aesthetic value. Applies: The planning director may set this as a condition of a tree removal permit. § 17.16.080 · code text Replacement of the removed tree or trees with equal or greater number of tree(s) of species and quantity commensurate with the aesthetic value of the tree or trees removed.

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Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Rancho Cucamonga?

Rancho Cucamonga's code: Yes, a permit is required, but there is no fee. (Applies to a heritage tree shown dead by visual evidence or a qualified arborist's report.) (§ 17.16.080); Any tree over 30 feet tall with a single trunk diameter of 20 inches or more, measured 4.5 feet up. (Applies to single-family residential property.) (§ 17.16.080).

Tree removal in Rancho Cucamonga

What Rancho Cucamonga's code says

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