How Clovis Handles Tree Protection: A Practical Guide

Clovis maintains 160 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with tree protection. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Clovis falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Protected Tree Species

Clovis Municipal Code Section 9.30.040 defines which trees on private property are 'protected' and therefore require a removal permit: heritage trees, trees tied to a development condition, large multi-trunk and single-trunk trees, parkway trees, and trees required under site plan review. Fruit trees are exempt under Section 9.30.050.

Key details: Heritage trees: Protected in all zoning districts. Size threshold: 12-inch diameter / 38-inch circumference at 4 ft. Single-family exemption: Developed R-1 lots exempt from size threshold. Fruit trees: Exempt under § 9.30.050(D). Also protected: Parkway trees and public-property trees.

Removing a tree in one of these protected categories without a permit is a misdemeanor under Section 9.30.150(A), enforced per Section 9.92.030. The Director assesses a tree-replacement penalty equal to the removed tree's market value plus an hourly administrative charge, or, when replacement cannot recreate equivalent aesthetic quality, a cash payment based on the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers valuation guide, deposited into the City's street tree fund for public-property tree purchases.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Clovis actively enforces its protected tree species requirements.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Clovis designates individual trees as protected 'heritage trees' under Municipal Code Section 9.30.120 through Protected Tree Advisory Committee review and a public hearing. Any person may apply with the property owner's written consent, and an approved designation is recorded with the County Recorder and added to the City's historic resources inventory.

Key details: Who may apply: Any person, with owner's written consent. Reviewing body: Protected Tree Advisory Committee. Hearing deadline: Public hearing within 30 days of complete application. Designation basis: Age, girth, species, or heritage significance. Recording: Recorded with County Recorder upon approval.

Because a designated heritage tree is a protected tree under Section 9.30.040(A), removing one without a permit under Section 9.30.060 is a misdemeanor under Section 9.30.150(A), exposing the owner to a replacement-value tree penalty or cash payment into the street tree fund. Any person aggrieved by a Committee decision, including a denied designation, may appeal under Section 9.30.130 and Chapter 90 of Title 9; appeal hearings are public hearings, and the site must again be posted with a sign at least 10 calendar days before the appeal hearing.

Compared to other cities, Clovis takes a harder line on heritage & protected trees. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Parkway Planting

Clovis requires a permit from the Public Utilities Director before anyone plants or removes a tree or shrub in a public parking strip or other public place. Species and placement must match the street tree plan or the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation's recommendations, and several species, including eucalyptus and palms, are banned from sidewalk planting citywide.

Key details: Permit required: Public Utilities Director, before planting/removal. Removal permit validity: 30 days from issuance. Banned sidewalk species: Eucalyptus, palms, conifers, others. Notice to comply: 15 days before City acts. Appeal window: 10 days, written notice to City Clerk.

Planting, removing, trimming, or abusing a public parking-strip tree without the Public Utilities Director's permit violates Chapter 10.1 and, under § 10.1.09, includes attaching wire, signs, or handbills to a public tree or letting electrified wire or harmful substances contact its roots or leaves. Failing to comply with a trim-or-remove notice within fifteen days is a separate violation, and the Director is charged with enforcing the chapter under § 10.1.12.

The Bottom Line

Clovis is tougher than many cities when it comes to tree protection. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Clovis, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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