Del Norte County, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Tree removal in unincorporated Del Norte County is regulated mainly through coastal zoning and state forestry law rather than a stand-alone county tree-removal ordinance. Under Title 21, Coastal Zoning, which implements the County's Local Coastal Program, Section 21.04.195 defines 'development' to include 'the removal or harvesting of major vegetation other than for agricultural purposes, kelp harvesting and timber operations which are in accordance with a timber harvesting plan submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973.' That means cutting down significant trees or stands of vegetation inside the coastal zone is treated as development and can require a coastal development permit reviewed by the Planning Division. The Coastal Element identifies riparian vegetation along rivers, streams, creeks, and sloughs, plus native wooded habitat, as sensitive resources, so removals near those areas face heightened scrutiny. For commercial timber operations on timberland, the controlling law is the statewide Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act, administered by CAL FIRE through approved Timber Harvesting Plans, not a county permit. In the heavily forested redwood and timberland portions of the county, this state framework is the primary path for large-scale tree removal. For ordinary single-tree removal on a developed inland residential lot outside the coastal zone, no specific county tree-removal permit has been identified; confirm with the Planning Division.