Tree removal permit rules in Kern County, CA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Removing a western Joshua tree anywhere in Kern County requires authorization from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act. The California Desert Native Plants Act also requires a permit from the county agricultural commissioner or sheriff before harvesting protected desert plants such as yuccas, cacti, ocotillo, and mesquites.
Fish and Game Code Section 1927.2, part of the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act of 2023, prohibits any person from taking, possessing, purchasing, or selling a western Joshua tree or any part of it except as authorized by CDFW. Section 1927.3 allows CDFW to issue incidental take permits requiring a tree census, avoidance and minimization measures, and mitigation fees; CDFW also issues free hazard management permits to property owners to remove dead western Joshua trees or trim trees, though these cannot authorize complete removal of living trees. Separately, the California Desert Native Plants Act applies in Kern County by name under Food and Agricultural Code Section 80003. Section 80073 prohibits harvesting listed native plants, including all yuccas (family Agavaceae), cacti, ocotillo, mesquites, palos verdes, catclaw, desert-holly, smoke tree, and desert ironwood, without a permit from the county agricultural commissioner or sheriff. Section 80118 exempts a landowner harvesting five or fewer native plants from their own land for purposes other than resale, and Section 80117 exempts clearing for agricultural purposes and fire control measures.
Unpermitted take, possession, or sale of a western Joshua tree violates Fish and Game Code Section 1927.2 and is subject to CDFW enforcement; development projects must obtain incidental take permits with mitigation fees under Section 1927.3. Harvesting listed desert native plants without the required county permit violates the Desert Native Plants Act, enforced by the Kern County agricultural commissioner and sheriff.
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