Camarillo's Tree Protection: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles tree protection a little differently. In Camarillo, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Camarillo designates certain street and public-area trees as historic, specimen or memorial by resolution of the planning commission or city council. Under Municipal Code Section 13.12.060(B), the director of public works otherwise handles maintenance and removal of city trees, but a historic or specimen tree cannot be removed without prior approval of the planning commission, and a memorial tree cannot be removed without prior approval of the city council.

Key details: Historic tree test: Notable age, type, or historic association (§13.12.020). Who designates: Planning commission resolution (memorial: city council). Removal approval: Planning commission required before removal (§13.12.060(B)). Memorial tree removal: Requires city council approval. Penalty: Misdemeanor under Chapter 1.12 (§13.12.100).

Removing or damaging a designated historic, specimen or memorial tree without the required commission or council approval is a misdemeanor under Section 13.12.100, enforced through Chapter 1.12 of the municipal code. In lieu of prosecution, the director of public works can instead require the violator to plant a replacement tree of comparable value or to reimburse the city for the tree's appraised value, calculated by a certified arborist using the ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Camarillo actively enforces its heritage & protected trees requirements.

Parkway Planting

New or replacement trees planted in a Camarillo street or public area must match the city's comprehensive plan and approved street tree list under Municipal Code Section 13.12.050(A). Property owners can petition the planning commission for a different species, but planting off the approved list without that approval is not allowed.

Key details: Planting must match: City's approved street tree list (§13.12.030(A)). Permit needed: Written permit from director before planting (§13.12.040(A)). Different species: Requires planning commission petition and approval. New development condition: Commission can require street trees as approval condition. Planting strip allowance: Required in street redesigns where feasible (§13.12.050(D)).

Planting a tree in a Camarillo street or public area without a permit, or with a species not on the approved street tree list and without planning commission approval of a substitute, is not authorized under Sections 13.12.040 and 13.12.050. The director of public works can also refuse a related right-of-way planting permit under Section 13.04.625 if the proposed species would be deleterious to the highway, reduce sight distance or impede maintenance of facilities.

The Bottom Line

Camarillo's tree protection rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Camarillo is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Camarillo's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.