Can I prune or cut a tree on my Sacramento property without permission? What city law says
Sacramento is the “City of Trees” — filled with an array of species, including oak, elm, sycamore and redwoods.
The city protects its trees, including some on private land.
Do Sacramento property owners require permission to manage — prune or cut — their trees?
Here’s what the city says if you’re planning to trim or remove a tree on your Sacramento property:
Can I perform work on a tree in my Sacramento yard?
Depending on the status of the tree, a permit might required to remove it, according to the city’s website.
Sacramento City Code 12.56.020 states that “private protected trees,” which are regarded to have special historical value by the City Council, require permission to perform “regulated work.”
Regulated work is “any act that could adversely impact the health” of these trees, the code states.
This includes:
- Removing the entire tree.
- Removing the top of tree.
- Pruning the branches or roots.
- Attaching something to the tree.
- Clearing the soil within the tree’s area.
- Storing construction equipment or material around the tree.
- Applying any harmful substance within the tree’s area.
This does not include routine maintenance such as minor pruning, mulch application or applying herbicides. The city is responsible for trees on public property.
Which trees are protected by Sacramento law?
Sacramento uses Diameter Standard Height to measure trees.
DSH refers to a tree’s diameter above the ground, the city website states.
According to the city’s website, protected trees are the following:
- Native trees at 12 inch DSH including Coast, Interior, Valley and Blue Oaks; California Sycamores; and California Buckeyes.
- Trees at 32 inch DSH within the property of a single family home or duplex.
- Trees at 24 inch DSH on undeveloped land or commercial, industrial and apartment property.
How do I apply for a permit to work on a protected tree?
Before beginning any work on your city-protected tree, a permit application must first be completed and approved by the Urban Forestry office, which oversees the trees within the city’s urban area in both private and public properties.
The application is available on the city’s website.
Once received by the office, employees will process the permit application within 10 business days, the city’s website states.
Can I be fined for removing a protected tree without a permit?
It is a violation of Sacramento’s code to remove or prune a protected tree without a permit.
Penalties can result in civil actions, criminal punishments and/or a $250 to $25,000 fine, the city’s website states.
This story was originally published November 9, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
