Indio, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Indio, 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 issuer
- Public Works Director
- Covers
- public/city trees only
- Appeal window
- 10 days to City Manager
- Max civil penalty
- $1,000 per violation
Summary
Indio, California requires a Public Works Department permit before anyone plants, removes, cuts, prunes, or disturbs a public 'city tree': one located in a park, city easement, or on city-owned property in this Riverside County city.
No person shall plant, remove, cut, prune, root prune, apply pesticides or otherwise disturb any city tree or shrubs without first obtaining a permit from the Director of Public Works.
(B) Applications for permits must be made to the Public Works Department on forms provided by the Department, and shall include such information as the Director deems necessary to review the application.
(C) The Director shall issue the permit if, in his or her judgment, the proposed work is desirable and the proposed method is and workmanship are performed to the standards defined under the "pruning" definition of § 98.01 of this chapter. Any permit granted shall contain a date of expiration and the work shall be completed in the time allowed on the permit and in the manner described in it. A permit shall be null and void if violated.
(D) Work undertaken by the permittee or his or her agents may be stopped immediately and the permittee's permit may be revoked by oral or written order of the Director when the Director determines that the program of work or conditions outlined in the permit are not being complied with.
(E) The Director's decision may be appealed to the City Manager if a written appeal, setting forth the grounds, is filed with the City Clerk within ten days of the Director's decision. If no timely appeal is filed, the decision shall be final.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796010; v13 updated 2026-02-04; through 02-04-2026).
Full Breakdown
City trees are defined narrowly, any tree within a public park, city easement, or city-owned property, so a homeowner removing a tree standing entirely on private land generally isn't covered here. For a covered tree, § 98.07 requires a permit from the Director of Public Works, who approves it only if the work and workmanship meet the chapter's pruning standards. Permits carry an expiration date and are void once violated; work can be stopped and the permit revoked if conditions aren't followed. A denial or revocation can be appealed to the City Manager within ten days of the Director's decision.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 98 is a misdemeanor or infraction at the discretion of the City Attorney or District Attorney; the city may also impose a civil penalty up to $1,000 under Cal. Gov't Code § 36901.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Indio require a permit to remove a tree on my private yard?
What happens if I remove a city tree without a permit in Indio?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle tree removal & heritage trees.