Tree removal permit rules in Elk Grove, CA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Elk Grove has a protected tree ordinance (EGMC Chapter 19.12) that regulates removal of native oaks and other heritage trees. Removing a protected tree without a permit can result in fines up to $10,000 plus replacement requirements, typically at a 3:1 ratio.
Elk Grove's Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance (EGMC Chapter 19.12) designates native oaks (valley, interior live, and blue oak) with trunk diameters above a specified size (commonly 6 inches DBH for valley oak) as protected, along with heritage trees individually listed by the Planning Commission. Any pruning that removes more than 25 percent of the canopy, grading within the drip line, or removal requires a Tree Preservation Permit. Applications require an arborist report and typically a replacement planting plan. Permits for removal of healthy protected trees are granted only when the tree is hazardous, diseased, or prevents reasonable use of the property, and mitigation usually involves planting replacement trees at a 3:1 ratio or paying an in-lieu fee to the city's tree fund. Illegal removal triggers civil penalties of up to $10,000 per tree plus the appraised value, and can halt related development permits.
Unpermitted removal of a protected tree: administrative penalty up to $10,000 per tree, appraised-value restitution, mandatory replacement planting, and possible development moratorium on the site.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle tree removal & heritage trees.
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