Los Angeles, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Los Angeles, 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
- Approval authority
- City Planning Advisory Agency in consultation with Chief Forester
- Report requirement
- Tree expert report required before tentative tract map is deemed complete
- Replacement ratio
- At least 2 protected-variety trees per removed protected tree
- Minimum replacement size
- 15-gallon container, ≥1 inch diameter at 1 foot above base, ≥7 feet tall
- Survival bond
- Required to guarantee replacement tree survival for 3 years post-planting
- Historical Monument exception
- Mandatory retention unless tree is in danger of falling (imminent irreversible condition)
Summary
In any subdivision proceeding, a protected tree may not be removed or relocated without Advisory Agency approval in consultation with the City's Chief Forester, and no subdivision application is complete without a tree expert report evaluating all protected trees on site. When removal is approved, the owner must replace each protected tree with at least two 15-gallon protected-variety trees and post a bond guaranteeing their survival for three years.
R. Protected Tree Regulations. No protected tree may be relocated or removed except as provided in this Article or Article 6 (Preservation of Protected Trees) of Chapter 4 (Public Welfare) of this Code.
SEC. 17.06. C. Protected Tree Reports for Tentative Tract Maps. No application for a tentative tract map approval for a subdivision where a protected tree is located shall be considered complete unless it includes a report, in a form acceptable to the Advisory Agency and the City's Chief Forester, which pertains to preserving the tree and evaluates the subdivider's proposals for the preservation, removal, replacement or relocation of the tree. The report shall be prepared by a tree expert and shall include all protected trees identified pursuant to Subdivision 13. of Subsection B. (Map Requirements) of this Section.
4. Requirements. (a) The protected tree is replaced within the property by at least two trees of a protected variety included within the definition set forth in Section 17.02 (Definitions) of this Article, except where the protected tree is relocated pursuant to Subdivision 2.(a) above. The size of each replacement tree shall be a 15-gallon, or larger, specimen, measuring one inch or more in diameter at a point one foot above the base, and not less than seven feet in height, measured from the base. The size and number of replacement trees shall approximate the value of the tree to be replaced.
Full Breakdown
Under LAMC § 17.05.R, the Advisory Agency may approve removal only if the tree's continued presence prevents reasonable development, the tree is in documented substantial decline with no economically feasible remedy, the tree is in danger of falling due to irreversible conditions, or it interferes with utility services or roadways with no alternative. A tree expert report is a mandatory prerequisite for any tentative tract map application involving a protected tree, covering proposals for preservation, removal, replacement, and relocation, and evaluating proposed mitigation measures for activities within the drip line. Historical Monument trees and trees within HPOZs must be retained at their existing location except when in danger of falling. A 'Tree Expert' is defined as someone with at least 4 years of experience who holds certification as an ISA arborist, is a landscape architect, or is a registered consulting arborist.
Violations & Fines
Subdivision map applications are deemed incomplete without the required tree expert report. Approval may be withheld if tree removal conditions are not met. Bond forfeiture for failure to maintain replacement trees for the required three-year survival period. Trees within Historical Monuments must be retained regardless of development impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am subdividing my property and a protected oak is in the way, can I remove it?
What qualifies as a 'tree expert' who can prepare the required report?
How many replacement trees are required if removal is approved?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles County handle tree removal & heritage trees.