Tree removal permit rules in Bakersfield, CA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Removal of any tree in the Bakersfield public right-of-way requires a permit from the Recreation and Parks Department under BMC Chapter 12.40. Replacement planting is typically required, and removal of healthy street trees is restricted. Private tree removal is generally allowed unless the tree is within an approved landscape plan or protected under a development condition.
BMC Chapter 12.40 governs removal of street trees and city-owned trees. A permit application must document cause (disease, death, hazard, or unavoidable conflict with construction) and is reviewed by the City Arborist. If approved, the applicant typically must replace the tree with a city-approved species and pay for planting. For private property, Bakersfield does not have a general heritage tree ordinance applying to single-family lots, but trees planted as conditions of development approval (in commercial projects, subdivisions, or planned developments) are protected by the approved landscape plan and cannot be removed without a planning amendment. Removing trees in riparian corridors along the Kern River may also require CDFW 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreements.
Illegal removal of a street tree can trigger restitution based on appraised tree value (ISA Trunk Formula Method) plus fines. Violations of development landscape conditions can require replanting and may be enforced as code violations with fines up to $1,000 per occurrence.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Kern County.
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