Placer County, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Tree-of-Heaven Removal (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned planting location
- any public highway
- Species listed with Tree of Heaven
- acacia, elm, eucalyptus, palm, poplar, conifers
- Approved species tracked via
- Director's master tree list
- Enforcing official
- Director of Public Works
- Appeal path
- Board of Supervisors, § 12.14.110
Summary
Placer County bans planting Tree of Heaven in any public highway under County Code § 12.14.060, grouping it with acacia, black walnut, eucalyptus, elm, palm, poplar and most conifers as species that become liabilities from structural weakness, disease, invasive roots or excessive maintenance.
Some types of trees, upon maturing, instead of becoming assets to the community, become liabilities due to structural weaknesses, disease or insect susceptibility, short life, destructive root systems, and rank growing branches requiring excessive maintenance. Due to one or more of these characteristics, it is unlawful to plant the following trees in any public highway: A. Acacia (most species); B. Black Walnut; C. Eucalyptus (most species); D. Elm (American, other large species); E. Palm (most species); F. Poplar; G. Tree of Heaven; H. Conifers (most species).
Full Breakdown
14 governs trees planted in the county's public highways, meaning its roads, streets, avenues, boulevards, alleys, parkways and rights-of-way. 040, the Director of Public Works maintains a master tree list of species approved for highway planting, developed in consultation with arborists and nurserymen and adopted by the Board of Supervisors; any tree not on that list needs a written permit from the Director, who may grant one only after Board approval. 060 goes further and flatly bars planting eight categories regardless of the master list: Acacia (most species), Black Walnut, Eucalyptus (most species), Elm (American and other large species), Palm (most species), Poplar, Tree of Heaven, and Conifers (most species).
The code explains the reasoning generally rather than species by species: these trees become liabilities instead of assets as they mature, due to structural weaknesses, disease or insect susceptibility, short lifespan, destructive root systems, or branches that require excessive maintenance, a description that matches Tree of Heaven's well-documented invasive root suckering and brittle limbs. 100. 110.
Violations & Fines
Article 12.14 sets no dedicated fine, so planting a banned species like Tree of Heaven in a county highway, or working on a highway tree without the required permit, is enforced under the county's general penalty, § 1.24.010: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, or an infraction with a capped fine, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tree of Heaven banned countywide in Placer County?
Why does the county ban Tree of Heaven from highway plantings?
Who approves what trees can be planted along county roads?
What's the penalty for planting a banned tree in the right-of-way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California invasive plant rules overview
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