Tree Protection in Santa Barbara County, CA (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Barbara County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Protected Tree Species

Removing a deciduous oak tree four inches or more in diameter in the county's inland agricultural and resource zones requires a permit above set thresholds under County Code Sec. 35-902 and Sec. 35-908. The rule reaches valley oaks and blue oaks outside the Coastal Zone and covers only unincorporated land.

Santa Barbara County Oak Tree Protection Rules

Significant Restrictions

Santa Barbara County Code Sec. 35-902(a), (c); Sec. 35-906

(a)The regulations contained in this article apply to all property in the unincorporated area located outside the coastal zone and urban boundary lines as depicted on the county's land use maps, in the Agriculture I (AG-I), Agriculture II (AG-II), Resource Management (RES), and Mountainous Goleta (MT-GOL) zone districts of article III of chapter 35 of the Santa Barbara County Code... (c)The reg...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parkway Planting

Only the county department of transportation or its contracted agent may plant a replacement tree in a county road right-of-way, and no one else may plant there without the director of transportation's prior written approval under the county's Street Tree Regulations.

Santa Barbara County Street Tree Planting Rules

Some Restrictions

Santa Barbara County Code Sec. 28-60

Replacement trees shall be planted by department of transportation personnel or a contracted agent during the proper season of each year. No trees shall be planted by any other persons except with the prior written approval of the director of transportation or an authorized agent. Replacement trees shall be of the same variety and size where applicable.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Tree Protection by City in Santa Barbara County

1 cities in Santa Barbara County have their own tree protection rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

Santa MariaPop. 112,076

2 verified rules • Heritage & Protected Trees, Parkway Planting

All Santa Barbara County ordinances

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