Ventura County, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Tree-of-Heaven Removal (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- unincorporated coastal zone only
- Rule
- no new planting of invasive trees
- Tree-of-heaven status
- listed in Table 3, invasive
- Source
- Appendix T1, Coastal Zoning Ordinance
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 4492, 6-21-2016
Summary
Ventura County's Coastal Zoning Ordinance bars new plantings of invasive trees, including tree-of-heaven, anywhere in the unincorporated coastal zone, per Appendix T1's tree list and planting standards.
The planting of invasive trees is prohibited in the coastal zone.
Table 3 Invasive Trees Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) Pepper Tree (Schinus molle; terebenthifolius) Chinese Tallow Tree (Sapium sebiferum) Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) Common Fig (Ficus carica) Saltcedar, Athel
(Tamarisx aphylla; chinensis; gallica, parviflora, ramosissima)
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) Scarlet Wisteria Tree (Sesbania punicea) Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Myoporum (Myoporum laetum) Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) Acacia
(Acacia decurrens, A. dealdata, A. melanoxylon) Single Seed Hawthorne
(Crataegus monogyna) Black Locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) Silk Oak (Grevillea robusta) Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) Silk Tree, Mimosa Tree (Albizzia julibrissin) Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) White and Italian Poplar (Populus alba L.; nigra L. var. italic) Chinese & Siberian Elm (Ulmus parvifolia Jacquin; pumila) Weeping Bottle Brush (Callistemon viminalis) English Walnut (Juglans regia) White Mulberry (Morus alba) European Olive (Olea europaea)
* The list of invasive trees includes species identified as problematic and/or invasive by the California Native Plant Society and the California Exotic Pest Plant Council.
(Ord. No. 4492, § 9, 6-21-2016)
C. - GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Full Breakdown
Appendix T1 to the Ventura County Coastal Zoning Ordinance lists Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in Table 3 as an invasive tree species and states that planting invasive trees is prohibited in the coastal zone. The appendix works alongside Section 8178-8 of the ordinance and applies only within the unincorporated coastal zone of Ventura County, not inside any of the county's ten incorporated cities (Oxnard, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula and the others), each of which regulates its own zoning. Existing tree-of-heaven specimens are not required to be removed; the rule targets new plantings and sits alongside the county's separate protected-tree permitting rules for native, historic, and heritage trees.
Violations & Fines
Planting a listed invasive tree such as tree-of-heaven in the coastal zone violates the Coastal Zoning Ordinance; violations are enforceable as a misdemeanor/infraction under Sec. 8183-3, with penalties under Sec. 13-2 of the County Ordinance Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant a tree-of-heaven in unincorporated Ventura County?
Does this rule cover Ventura, Ojai, or the county's other cities?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California invasive plant rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.