Bishop, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

There is no countywide tree-protection or tree-removal permit ordinance for unincorporated Inyo County — no heritage-tree, oak, or significant-tree law of the kind found in many California cities. A private property owner may generally remove trees on their own land without a county tree permit. Several caveats matter. Removal that is part of a larger development project may be reviewed through the Title 18 zoning and permitting process or trigger California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review through the Planning Department. Removal that involves grading or earthwork may require a grading permit under the County's building and grading regulations. Importantly, a large share of Owens Valley land — and the underlying water — is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Public Power (LADWP); trees on LADWP land are subject to that agency's management, not the County. State fire law (PRC 4291) may, conversely, require removal of certain trees or fuel within defensible space in fire-prone areas. Because the County has not adopted a tree-removal ordinance, the honest answer for most private parcels is that no county permit is needed to remove your own trees.