Yuba County, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Yuba County, 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
- Oak trees
- 6+ inch DBH must be mapped
- Other trees
- 30+ inch DBH must be mapped
- Removals
- Must be marked on tentative map
- Preservation
- Certified arborist must supervise removal/grading
- Scope
- New subdivisions only, not existing lots
Summary
New subdivisions in unincorporated Yuba County must map every oak tree 6+ inches DBH and every other tree 30+ inches DBH on the tentative map; where the county requires preservation, removal and grading must be arborist-supervised.
All existing oak trees that have a diameter at breast height (DBH) of six inches or greater and all other trees that have a DBH of 30 inches or greater shall be shown on the tentative map or tentative parcel map with a notation as to the size, species and dripline. All trees proposed for removal shall be clearly designated. Existing trees may be required to be preserved. In cases in which tree preservation is required, all grading and necessary tree trimming shall be conducted under the supervision of a certified arborist or registered forester.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Yuba County Code § 11.44.060(b), in the Subdivision Design chapter, requires tentative maps and tentative parcel maps for new subdivisions in unincorporated Yuba County to show every existing oak tree with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of six inches or greater, and every other tree with a DBH of 30 inches or greater, noted by size, species, and dripline, with any tree proposed for removal clearly designated. When the Development Review Committee or Planning Commission requires preservation, all grading and necessary tree trimming must be supervised by a certified arborist or registered forester approved by the County. This is a subdivision-review requirement tied to the tentative-map process, not a standalone permit for removing a tree from an already-developed lot.
Violations & Fines
Trees within a proposed public right-of-way may be removed only for good cause, protecting public safety or installing public facilities, as approved by the Public Works Director; removing or grading around a tree the County has required to preserve without certified-arborist supervision breaches the tentative map's conditions of approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Yuba County require a permit to remove a tree on my property?
What size oak trees must be shown on a Yuba County tentative map?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yuba County
California rules heatmap·Compare Yuba County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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