Protected Tree Species: Carson vs El Monte
How do protected tree species rules compare between Carson, CA and El Monte, CA?
Carson has fewer restrictions than El Monte.
Carson, CA
Los Angeles County
Carson does not maintain a list of 'protected species' (e.g., native oaks, sycamores) in its Municipal Code in the way some Northern California cities do. Carson regulates trees by location (parkway / right-of-way) under Chapter 9 rather than by species. State-level protection applies only to specific listed species under the California Endangered Species Act and CCR Title 14 forestry rules.
View full Carson rules →El Monte, CA
Los Angeles County
El Monte protects 14 named California native tree species — including all native oaks, California sycamore, California walnut, California bay, and California redwood — once their trunk diameter exceeds 8 inches at breast height.
View full El Monte rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Carson | El Monte |
|---|---|---|
| Native species list? | None in Carson code — no oak/sycamore protection chapter | - |
| Approach | Location-based (parkway) protection, not species-based | - |
| LA County native protections | Do not apply inside incorporated Carson | - |
| State law backstop | California Endangered Species Act (Fish & Game §2050+) | - |
| Authorized species | Parkway Tree Master Plan Exhibit A (positive list) | - |
| Threshold | - | 8-inch diameter at 4.5 ft above grade (~25-inch circumference) |
| Number of protected species | - | 14 California natives |
| Includes | - | Coast live oak, Engelmann oak, Valley oak, California sycamore, California walnut, California redwood |
| Exempt | - | Fruit/nut trees, palms, nursery stock, certified hazardous trees |
| Code section | - | EMMC §14.03.020 (Native Tree definition) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Carson FAQ
Does Carson protect native coast live oaks like LA County does?
No. Los Angeles County's Oak Tree Ordinance (Title 22 §22.174) applies in unincorporated LA County and does not apply within Carson city limits. Carson's own code protects only parkway trees under Chapter 9. A native oak entirely on private Carson property is not covered by a city-wide species ordinance, but may still be protected through state CESA if the species is listed.
Are there any tree species banned from planting in Carson?
Carson uses a positive list — the Authorized List of Carson Trees (Exhibit A to Chapter 9). Anything not on the list cannot be planted in the parkway. The City Manager designates which authorized species are planted in any given parkway; planting a non-conforming species in the right-of-way without a permit can result in the tree being removed by the City.
El Monte FAQ
Which California native species are protected in El Monte?
All 14 species named in EMMC §14.03.020: Coast live oak, Engelmann oak, Canyon oak, California sycamore, California walnut, Scrub oak, Valley oak, California bay, Cottonwood (Fremont and Black), California alder, Arroyo willow, California buckeye, and California redwood — once the trunk exceeds 8 inches diameter at 4.5 ft above grade.
Is my palm tree protected in El Monte?
No. All species of palms are expressly exempt under EMMC §14.03.050(7), as are all fruit- and nut-bearing trees.
What about a California pepper tree or a non-native eucalyptus?
They are not on the Native Tree list, but they may qualify as Heritage Trees if they meet the size or height thresholds in §14.03.020 (36-inch single-trunk circumference, 75-inch multi-trunk, or 35 feet tall).
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