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Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.56 defines daytime as 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Sun-Thu and 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Fri-Sat; nighttime is quiet hours with stricter dBA limits enforced at the receiving property line.

Sonoma Municipal Code 9.56.050 allows residential power equipment (including construction tools) Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and Sunday/holidays 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Continuous and unprovoked barking is regulated under SMC 9.56.030 (loud/unusual noise prohibited) and enforced by Sonoma Police, who refer animal-related complaints to Sonoma County Animal Services under County Code Chapter 5.

Gas-powered leaf blowers have been banned within Sonoma city limits since December 22, 2016. Electric and battery leaf blowers are permitted only Monday-Saturday (excluding holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Amplified sound directed toward a public right-of-way from a business is prohibited under SMC Chapter 9.56; outdoor amplified music at events requires a zoning/special-event permit, and ongoing amplified sound must stay within general dBA limits in SMC 9.56.040.

The City of Sonoma does not regulate aircraft noise. Aircraft operations and noise emissions are exclusively governed by federal law under FAA jurisdiction, and the nearest airport (Sonoma Valley/Schellville) is regulated by Sonoma County's airport land use compatibility framework, not Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.56.

Sonoma Municipal Code § 9.56.040 sets dBA limits measured at the receiving property line, distinguishing constant from intermittent noise. Commercial property limits are 65 dBA intermittent / 55 dBA constant; residential limits are lower and Chapter 9.56 directs that where two limits overlap, the more restrictive one applies.

On-road motor vehicle noise is regulated by the California Vehicle Code, not Sonoma Municipal Code. CVC § 27150 requires an adequate muffler at all times and § 27151 prohibits exhaust modifications that increase noise above the statutory limits (95 dBA for passenger vehicles under 6,000 lbs GVWR). Sonoma police enforce these state standards.

Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 9.56 prohibits aiming amplified, transmitted, or recorded sound at the public right-of-way from a business and subjects all outdoor music to the dBA limits of SMC § 9.56.040. Outdoor music events above those limits require a permit under SMC § 9.56.060.

Sonoma Municipal Code § 9.56.040 caps noise on commercial property at 65 dBA intermittent and 55 dBA constant, measured at the property line, unless a use permit authorizes a higher level. Industrial uses are typically conditioned through the use permit process under Title 19 (Zoning).

Sonoma's 2017 vacation-rental ordinance limits overnight occupancy to a maximum of two persons per sleeping room plus two additional persons per unit, with no exceptions for children.

Under Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.50.110 (adopted by Ordinance 12-2017 on Dec. 4, 2017), new vacation rentals are not allowed in any residential, mixed-use, or commercial zone of the City of Sonoma. The only exception is the adaptive re-use of a historic structure, and only previously licensed rentals (valid business license + TOT registration as of Nov. 3, 1999) may continue as legal non-conforming uses.

Even grandfathered Sonoma vacation rentals must hold a current City business license (SMC § 19.50.110(A)(7)) and a Transient Occupancy Tax registration under SMC 3.16.060. Every online advertisement or listing must display the Business License or TOT Certificate number (SMC § 19.50.110(A)(6)).

Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.50.110(A)(5) does NOT require the host to be physically present at the property during a guest stay. Instead, every grandfathered vacation rental must have a designated property manager who is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during all times the unit is rented, with name and contact info on file with the City Planning Department.

Sonoma Municipal Code § 19.50.110 does not impose a primary-residence requirement on the grandfathered pool of vacation rentals because new applications are flatly prohibited. The 'grandfather' test is whether the property held a valid business license and TOT registration on November 3, 1999 — not whether the owner lives there.

The City of Sonoma did NOT adopt a hosted-rental or 'home share' carve-out when it passed Ordinance 12-2017. Any rental of 29 consecutive days or less falls within the definition of a 'vacation rental' under SMC § 19.50.110(A)(2) and is barred unless grandfathered. Renting a single room while you live in the home is not a separately permitted use inside City limits.

Vacation rental operators inside Sonoma city limits collect a 13% Transient Occupancy Tax (Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 3.16) plus a 2% Sonoma Valley Tourism Improvement District assessment, for a combined 15% added to every stay of 30 days or less.

The City of Sonoma's vacation-rental ordinance (SMC §19.50.140) does not require operators to carry a minimum liability-insurance policy; California state law similarly does not impose a host-insurance floor, leaving coverage up to the operator and any platform-provided host protection.

Sonoma's vacation-rental ordinance does not impose an annual rental-night cap, but the City has prohibited issuance of new vacation-rental permits since December 4, 2017, effectively freezing the supply.

Permitted Sonoma vacation rentals are subject to a flat prohibition on outdoor amplified sound and must designate a property manager with City-on-file contact information who responds to neighbor complaints.

Sonoma vacation rentals must accommodate guest parking on-site under the conditions of their original use permit and the City's underlying off-street parking standards (SMC Ch. 19.48); on-street overflow that creates neighborhood impacts is grounds for enforcement.

Recreational fires and fire pits are allowed inside the City of Sonoma under the California Fire Code as adopted by the Sonoma Valley Fire District, but only natural gas/propane fire pits and small wood recreational fires meeting setback and supervision rules are permitted; vegetation pile burning inside city limits is prohibited.

The City of Sonoma prohibits the sale, possession, use, or discharge of any fireworks – including 'Safe and Sane' fireworks and sparklers – inside city limits. Cloverdale is the only city in Sonoma County that still allows state-approved fireworks; everywhere else, including unincorporated Sonoma County, all fireworks are banned year-round.

Open burning of yard waste, brush, leaves, or trash is prohibited inside the City of Sonoma. The city is a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) where Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) rules and SVFD policy disallow residential vegetation pile burning; burn permits are only issued for unincorporated/State Responsibility Area (SRA) properties.

Property owners in the City of Sonoma must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures per California Public Resources Code §4291 (in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones) and meet weed abatement standards enforced by the Sonoma Valley Fire District annually. Failure to comply can result in city-conducted abatement with the cost recovered as a property tax lien.

The City of Sonoma adopted CAL FIRE's updated Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map on May 7, 2025, designating portions of the city as Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. New construction and major remodels in High and Very High zones must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A Wildland-Urban Interface ignition-resistant standards.

Residential propane (LP-gas) storage in Sonoma is governed by Chapter 61 of the California Fire Code (2022) and NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code). Containers up to 125 gallons water capacity may typically be installed at a residence with proper setbacks; containers over 125 gal water capacity require a fire department operational permit.

Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 10.73 declares abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles on public or private property a public nuisance and authorizes removal after notice and hearing.

California Vehicle Code §22507.5 lets Sonoma restrict commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR from parking in residential districts; Sonoma enforces a citywide 72-hour on-street limit (SMC 10.48.040), designated truck routes (SMC Chapter 10.60), and an inoperable-vehicle storage prohibition in residential setbacks (SMC 19.40.110).

Sonoma does not impose a blanket overnight on-street parking ban, but SMC 10.48.050 prohibits using city streets to store vehicles, and CVC 22651(k) authorizes removal of any vehicle parked in the same spot for 72+ consecutive hours.

Sonoma Municipal Code 10.48.040 caps any on-street parking at 72 consecutive hours, and SMC 19.40.110 bars front and street-side setbacks from being used to store inoperable vehicles, boats or trailers; recreational vehicles are defined in SMC 19.92.020.

Sonoma requires all driveways and parking pads to be hard-surfaced and set back from the street, and prohibits parking within the minimum required width of any driveway or private road serving a residence.

On-street parking in Sonoma is governed by SMC Chapter 10.48 (Stopping, Standing and Parking), which prohibits use of city streets as long-term vehicle storage and authorizes posted time-limited zones around the Plaza and downtown.

Sonoma adopted an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations under SMC Chapter 14.29, with most residential EVCS permits issued in 1–3 business days.

Per SMC 19.46.030, fences in front and street-side setbacks are limited to 3.5 feet; rear and interior side yards generally allow up to 7 feet (8 feet with the top foot at least 40% open). Corner-lot sight triangles cap fences at 30 inches.

Sonoma Municipal Code Ch. 19.46 regulates fence materials, including special wall and fencing guidelines (SMC 19.46.070) and material restrictions (SMC 19.46.080). Solid wood, masonry and concrete fences over 7 feet require a building permit; all fences over 10 feet do regardless of material.

California's Good Neighbor Fence Act (Civ. Code §841) presumes adjoining owners share equally in the reasonable cost of a boundary fence and requires 30 days' written notice before incurring shared costs. Local fence height and material rules in SMC Ch. 19.46 still apply.

Per SMC 19.46.040, retaining walls in Sonoma may not exceed 6 feet measured from finished grade at the base of the wall. Walls over 4 feet of unbalanced fill (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) require a building permit under the California Building Code.

California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §§115920-115929) controls pool barriers in Sonoma. Enclosures must be at least 60 inches tall with self-closing/self-latching gates opening away from the pool, and new/remodeled pools must include at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention safety features.

Backyard beekeeping is permitted in the City of Sonoma. A typical single-family home may maintain up to 2 hives, with up to 4 hives allowed on larger parcels, subject to screening, setback, and licensing requirements. All beekeepers must register apiaries with the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner under California's BeeWhere program.

California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts breed-specific bans, but Sonoma County requires mandatory spay/neuter of all pit bulls over four months old under Chapter 5, Article XIV (§5-171), which applies in unincorporated areas and is enforced alongside the City's dangerous-dog rules in SMC Chapter 8.12.

The City of Sonoma has no city-specific wildlife-feeding ordinance, but state law applies: under 14 CCR §251.1, feeding wild birds and mammals can constitute illegal 'harassment' of wildlife. Feeding deer, bears, mountain lions, and other big game is prohibited under California Fish and Game Code §4014.

Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 8.06 prohibits dogs from being at large on any public street or place; dogs must be restrained by a leash no longer than six feet, with exceptions for service dogs, police dogs, and posted off-leash areas.

The City of Sonoma regulates keeping of livestock, fowl and other animals under Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 8.08. Chickens and small fowl are allowed in residential zones subject to setback and sanitation requirements, while dairies and commercial animal farms are prohibited.

Keeping exotic or wild animals in the City of Sonoma is prohibited without proof of proper state approvals under Sonoma Municipal Code §8.06.120. The municipal code adopts the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's restricted species list — possession of restricted species requires a permit issued under Cal. Fish & Game Code §2118.

The City of Sonoma does not impose a numeric cap on the number of pets per household, but animal hoarding is prosecuted under California Penal Code §597 (cruelty) and §597.1 (neglect), and locally under Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 8.06. Hoarding is a wobbler — chargeable as a misdemeanor or felony.

Within the Sonoma Valley Fire District jurisdiction (which includes the City of Sonoma), annual grasses must be cut to a maximum of 4 inches and maintained as defensible space out to 100 feet from any structure, mirroring California Public Resources Code § 4291 and Sonoma Valley Fire District (SVFRA) Annual Weed Abatement Regulations.

Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 14.32 implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) for new and rehabilitated landscapes, with most provisions triggered at 500 sq ft (new) or 2,500 sq ft (rehabilitated). Single-family private residential landscaping is not affected by AB 1572's non-functional turf irrigation ban.

Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.08 (Tree Ordinance) regulates pruning, alteration, and removal of public and 'significant' trees in the City of Sonoma. Pruning of public trees and any alteration/removal of significant trees requires a permit, with ISA-certified arborist standards under SMC § 12.08.060.

Combustible weeds, brush, and dry vegetation are declared a public nuisance under the City's adoption of the California Fire Code via SMC § 14.10.045, enforced by the Sonoma Valley Fire District's Annual Weed Abatement Program. Owners must abate within 30 days of notice or the city/SVFRA performs the work and bills the cost plus a lien.

The City does not mandate native plants by species list, but SMC § 19.40.060 (Landscape standards) and SMC Ch. 14.32 require drought-tolerant plantings in conformance with the city's low-water-use landscaping ordinance, and prohibit turf in commercial landscapes except in active play areas.

California law expressly permits residential rainwater harvesting from rooftops under the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Cal. Water Code § 10574), and no water-right permit is required. Rain barrels and non-potable cisterns under 5,000 gallons are typically exempt from building permits in the Sonoma region when basic safety criteria are met.

The City of Sonoma has no ordinance prohibiting residential artificial turf, and California Civil Code § 4735 forbids homeowners associations from banning synthetic grass on a member's separate-interest property. Commercial/nonresidential turf is treated as 'non-functional' under SMC Ch. 14.32 / AB 1572 and is generally limited.

Sonoma Municipal Code §19.50.040 allows home occupations only with an Administrative Permit (or, for higher-impact uses, a Conditional Use Permit) plus a City business license, and confines the activity to no more than one room or 20% of the main dwelling's gross floor area.

California Health & Safety Code §1597.45 makes small (≤8 children) and large (≤14 children) family daycare homes a residential use by right in all residential zones and prohibits the City of Sonoma from requiring a business license fee, conditional use permit, or building-occupancy change for them.

Under SMC §19.50.040, a home occupation in the City of Sonoma may not display window signs, advertising signs, merchandise, products, or stock in trade visible from the exterior; the City Planner may allow one name plate not exceeding one (1) square foot.

SMC §19.50.040 requires that home occupations not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic, deliveries, or parking demand substantially greater than normal residential uses, and prohibits employees who do not reside in the dwelling.

California's Homemade Food Act (AB 1616, codified at Health & Safety Code §§113758, 114365) authorizes home production of non-potentially-hazardous foods; Sonoma County Department of Health Services issues Class A registrations and Class B permits, and the City of Sonoma cannot prohibit a compliant cottage food operation but applies its home-occupation standards.

Sonoma requires a building permit for any new in-ground or above-ground pool, spa, or hot tub holding water deeper than 18 inches, with plans reviewed by Permit Sonoma against the California Building Code and SMC 19.50.080.

New and remodeled pools/spas at Sonoma single-family homes must have at least two of seven independent drowning-prevention features under California HSC §115922, plus dual anti-entrapment drains under the Virginia Graeme Baker standards (ASME/ANSI A112.19.8) referenced in Permit Sonoma CNI-044.

Hot tubs and spas in Sonoma are treated as swimming pools when their water depth exceeds 18 inches, but a locking safety cover meeting ASTM ES 13-89 can exempt a spa from the full HSC §115922 enclosure mandate under Permit Sonoma CNI-044.

Pool enclosures in Sonoma must be at least 60 inches high with self-closing/self-latching gates opening away from the pool, no more than a 2-inch ground gap and no openings that pass a 4-inch sphere - the isolation-enclosure option under SMC 19.50.080 and California Pool Safety Act HSC §115922-115923.

Above-ground pools holding water over 18 inches deep are regulated identically to in-ground pools in Sonoma - building permit, 5-foot side/rear setback under SMC 19.40.110, and the HSC §115922 two-feature drowning-prevention requirement all apply.

All ADUs and JADUs require a building permit from the City of Sonoma Planning and Community Services Department, processed ministerially under state law (Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2(b)) within 60 days of a complete application. No discretionary CUP or public hearing is required.

JADUs require owner-occupancy of the parcel (either the main house or the JADU). New ADUs permitted on or after January 1, 2020 are exempt from owner-occupancy per Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2(a)(6); pre-2020 ADUs remain subject to the rule in effect at permitting.

Sonoma allows ADUs and JADUs in all residential zones (R-HS, R-R, R-L, R-S, R-M, R-H, R-O, R-P) under SMC Chapter 19.45, consistent with Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2. Detached ADUs are capped at 850 sq ft (or up to 1,200 sq ft with proportional limits) with a 4-foot side/rear setback and 16-foot height for single story.

Sonoma prohibits renting any ADU or JADU for terms shorter than 30 days (no short-term/vacation rentals). Properties with an attached JADU are categorically ineligible for vacation rental use.

Per Cal. Gov. Code 65852.2(f) and 66311.5, ADUs under 750 sq ft pay NO impact fees in Sonoma. ADUs 750 sq ft or larger pay impact fees proportionate to the ratio of ADU square footage to the primary dwelling's square footage, collected at final inspection or certificate of occupancy.

Detached storage sheds 120 sq ft or smaller and not over 8 ft tall may sit at the side or rear property line without a building permit; anything larger triggers SMC 19.50.080 standards and a Permit Sonoma building permit.

Carports are listed accessory uses under SMC 19.50.080; detached carports must follow the 15-ft height cap and are barred from front and street-side setbacks, while attached carports must meet the main dwelling's setback and height standards.

The City permits converting an existing garage into an ADU under SMC 19.45.040 with no replacement parking required; state law (Gov. Code §66323) and the City waive parking when the ADU is within ½ mile of transit or in the historic district.

The City of Sonoma has not adopted the County's movable-tiny-home (THOW) program — within city limits a tiny home is only legal as a permanent-foundation ADU built to the California Building Code under SMC Chapter 19.45.

Sonoma participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and regulates development in FEMA-mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas through Chapter 14.25 of the Municipal Code.

A grading permit is required for excavation, grading, and fill in Sonoma, with engineered plans, bonds, and inspections governed by Chapter 14.20 of the Municipal Code.

Sonoma operates under a State NPDES Phase II MS4 permit and bans non-stormwater discharges into the city's storm drains, which flow untreated to Nathanson, Sonoma, and Fryer Creeks.

Every grading permit application in Sonoma must include an erosion and sediment control plan, and engineered or sensitive-area projects require certification by a Certified Erosion Control Specialist.

No local coastal development ordinance — the City of Sonoma is inland in the Sonoma Valley and lies entirely outside the California Coastal Zone, so the Coastal Act does not apply.

Sonoma Municipal Code §5.08.201.4 prohibits placing any garage, yard or patio sale sign, billboard, placard or other advertisement on any public property within the City, and also prohibits placing such signs on the premises where the sale is being conducted.

Political signs in the City of Sonoma are regulated under Sonoma Municipal Code (SMC) §18.12.090(L) and may not be posted on public property under SMC §18.28.036. California Penal Code §556.1 requires owner consent before placing any sign on private property.

The City of Sonoma does not impose a specific ordinance limiting residential holiday displays. Outdoor decorations are generally treated as accessory to a residence and not as regulated 'signs' under Sonoma Municipal Code Title 18; however, public-right-of-way and nuisance rules still apply.

Dumping waste on public or private property in Sonoma is prosecuted under California Penal Code §374.3 with mandatory fines starting at $250 and rising to $10,000 for commercial-quantity third offenses; cleanup costs are recoverable from the dumper.

SMC 7.08.060 governs the location of solid-waste and source-separated containers; carts should be at the curb the night before pickup and may not be stored in view of the public street between collection days.

Solid waste collection in the City of Sonoma is provided exclusively by the franchised hauler (Sonoma Garbage Collectors) under SMC Chapter 7.08; every occupied premises must subscribe and use the three-cart system (gray trash, blue recycling, green organics) required by California SB 1383.

Sonoma Garbage Collectors holds two free Spring/Fall cleanups (April and October) where SGC residential customers may set out one large item under 75 lbs plus up to ten bags; on-demand bulky pickup is also available for a fee at (707) 996-7555.

SMC Chapter 7.10 implements California SB 1383 (2016) and requires every residential and commercial generator in Sonoma to subscribe to recycling service and source-separate recyclables (blue cart) and organics (green cart) from trash.

Sonoma supplies every residence with a 96-gallon green organics cart for grass, leaves, hedge clippings, branches, and untreated lumber; yard waste must go in the green cart under SMC Ch. 7.10 (SB 1383) and may not be burned because the City sits in a CAL FIRE State Responsibility Area / WUI.

Commercial drone operators in Sonoma must hold an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, register each aircraft, and follow the city's July 2025 drone ordinance, which adds local takeoff/landing, buffer-zone, and event rules on top of federal airspace law. Commercial filming on city property also requires a separate City of Sonoma film permit.

The City of Sonoma adopted a new drone ordinance in July 2025 setting local time-place-manner rules for unmanned aircraft. Recreational operators must also register with the FAA, pass the TRUST test, and follow 49 U.S.C. §44809 limits on hobby use; airspace itself is federally regulated and cannot be overridden by the city.

Drones are not allowed in Sonoma County Regional Parks (which manages Plaza Park and Depot Park in the City of Sonoma), and SMC Ch. 9.12 prohibits activities in city parks that endanger or disturb other visitors. Nearby California State Parks, including Sonoma State Historic Park, also prohibit unmanned aircraft except under a Special Use Permit.

Mobile food vendors in Sonoma may operate on private property with the owner's consent and in compliance with zoning, and on public sidewalks subject to the state Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946, Cal. Gov. Code §51036 et seq.). On-street vending generally requires an encroachment permit under SMC Ch. 12.20. State law (Cal. Veh. Code §22455) bars sales from commercial vehicles in roadways that create a traffic hazard.

Operating a food truck or mobile food facility in the City of Sonoma requires a Sonoma County Environmental Health Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit under the California Retail Food Code (Cal. Health & Safety Code §113700 et seq.) and a City of Sonoma business license under SMC Title 5. Many on-street commercial vending uses also require an encroachment permit under SMC Ch. 12.20.

Sidewalk vending is legal statewide under the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946, Cal. Gov. Code §§51036–51039). California cities may not ban sidewalk vending outright; the City of Sonoma may only impose objective time, place, and manner restrictions tied to health, safety, or welfare. Food vendors must also hold a Sonoma County Environmental Health Compact Mobile Food Operator (CMFO) permit.

Door-to-door commercial solicitors and peddlers in the City of Sonoma must hold a City business license under SMC Title 5 (§5.04). Non-commercial canvassing (political, religious, charitable) is protected by the First Amendment under Watchtower v. Village of Stratton, 536 U.S. 150 (2002), and the City may not require a permit for purely non-commercial canvassing.

The City of Sonoma does not operate a centralized 'no-knock' registry, but a clearly posted 'No Solicitors' or 'No Trespassing' sign at the entrance of private property creates a posted refusal of consent. Entry past such a sign is enforceable as trespass under California Penal Code §602(o) by Sonoma Police Department.

The City of Sonoma does not have a stand-alone juvenile curfew ordinance in its municipal code. Minors are still subject to California Education Code §48264 (daytime loitering / daytime curfew during school hours) and to county-level emergency curfews enacted under Cal. Gov. Code §8630 when the Sonoma County Sheriff invokes them.

Public parks in the City of Sonoma have set operating hours under Sonoma Municipal Code §9.12.050. Plaza Park and Depot Park are operated by Sonoma County Regional Parks and follow Regional Parks' standard hours (typically sunrise to sunset). Being in a park after posted closing hours is a violation enforceable under SMC §9.12.160.

Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.08 requires a written permit from the City before altering, removing, or relocating any 'significant tree' on private or public property.

Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.09 designates 'heritage trees' — those with historical significance, mutual dependence, outstanding specimen status, or ≥50 inches diameter at 24 inches above grade — and prohibits their removal or damage.

When a significant tree is approved for removal, SMC §12.08.065 requires replacement; the City may accept an in-lieu payment of $100.00 per 15-gallon replacement tree, with funds earmarked for tree education and planting.

Only the Public Works Director or an authorized representative may plant, prune, or trim trees in Sonoma's public rights-of-way without a written permit; residents must apply first under SMC §12.08.030.

Sonoma does not single out species by name; instead Chapter 12.08 protects all trees that meet the 'significant tree' definition in §12.08.020 — which captures many oaks, elms, maples, redwoods, and cedars — plus designated heritage trees under Chapter 12.09.