Camarillo, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Camarillo, CA, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- Approved trees in streets/public areas
- Issuing official
- Director of Public Works
- Stump removal depth
- 1 ft. below grade minimum
- Historic/memorial trees
- Need commission/council approval
- Alternative to fine
- Replace tree or pay appraised value
Summary
Removing an approved tree from a Camarillo street or public area requires a permit from the director of public works, and stumps must come out below grade. The rule covers city street trees, not general trees on private residential lots.
Removal Permit. No person other than city personnel or city contractors in the performance of their duties may remove any approved tree without first applying for a permit from the director. Where trees are removed, all stumps, including underground portions to a depth specified by the department must be removed during such operation. The director may determine that a tree authorized for removal be replaced by the permittee through the compensation methods described in Section 13.12.100(B).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
040(C) requires anyone other than city personnel or city contractors to apply for a removal permit from the director before taking out any 'approved tree,' meaning a tree in a city street or public area that conforms to the city's comprehensive tree plan or has otherwise been city-approved. 100(B). 060(D), while dead trees may be removed at the discretion of the director of community services, and requires the stump be taken out at least one foot below grade with the site restored. 060(B) bars removing a historic tree without planning commission approval and a memorial tree without city council approval.
No fee is charged for most permits under this chapter, though the department can bill for non-standard costs like after-hours inspections, and applicants may be required to work under a certified arborist's supervision or post a performance bond. This tree-removal permit scheme governs city street trees and trees on other public property; Camarillo's code, as reviewed, contains no separate ordinance restricting removal of trees on private residential property.
Violations & Fines
Removing an approved street tree without a permit, or unlawfully damaging or destroying one, violates Chapter 13.12 and is a misdemeanor under Section 13.12.100(A), punishable per Chapter 1.12. In lieu of prosecution or a fine, Section 13.12.100(B) lets the director require the violator to either replace the tree with one providing comparable value or reimburse the city for its appraised value, determined by an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist using its Guide for Plant Appraisal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in front of my Camarillo house?
Can Camarillo require me to replace a street tree I removed without a permit?
Are historic or memorial trees harder to remove in Camarillo?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Camarillo
California rules heatmap·Compare Camarillo to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle tree removal & heritage trees.