Los Banos, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Los Banos, 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 required for
- Designated Heritage Trees only
- Ordinary private trees
- No permit needed, § 10-1.09(h)(1)
- Pruning trigger
- Over 1/4 of branches or roots in 12 months
- Emergency removal authority
- Police Chief, Fire Chief, or Public Works Director
- Civil penalty
- Up to $5,000 per violation or per tree
- Appeal path
- Sections 9-3.2226 through 9-3.2228
Summary
Los Banos requires no permit to remove an ordinary private tree, but removing or heavily pruning a City-designated Heritage Tree is unlawful without a Public Works Director permit under § 10-1.09(e)-(f), backed by civil penalties up to $5,000 per tree.
Removal and major pruning of Heritage Trees prohibited. It is unlawful for any person to remove, or cause to be removed any Heritage Tree from any parcel of property in the City, or prune more than 1/4 of the branches or roots within a 12 month period, without obtaining a permit; provided, that in case of emergency, when a tree is imminently hazardous or dangerous to life or property, it may be removed by order of the Police Chief, Fire Chief, the Director of Public Works or their respective designees. ... Tree permit required. Any person desiring to remove one or more Heritage Trees or perform major pruning shall apply for a permit pursuant to procedures established by the Director of Public Works and shall pay a fee established by the City Council. It is the joint responsibility of the property owner and party removing the Heritage Tree or trees, or portions thereof to obtain the permit. The Director of Public Works or designee may only issue a permit for the removal or major pruning of a Heritage Tree if he or she determines there is good cause for such action.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4356507; v3 updated 2025-03-05).
Full Breakdown
Los Banos does not require a permit to remove an ordinary tree on private property. 09(h)(1) expressly exempts removal of any tree on private property not classified or listed as a Heritage Tree from any permit requirement. 04. For a designated Heritage Tree, subsection (e) makes it unlawful for any person to remove it, or to prune more than one-quarter of its branches or roots within a 12-month period, without first obtaining a permit. Removal is allowed without a permit only in a true emergency, where the tree is imminently hazardous or dangerous to life or property, and even then only by order of the Police Chief, Fire Chief, the Director of Public Works or their designees.
To apply, subsection (f) requires the property owner, jointly with whoever will perform the removal, to seek a permit under procedures the Director of Public Works establishes and to pay a fee set by City Council resolution. The Director may issue the permit only upon finding good cause, weighing factors including the tree's condition and disease risk, the necessity of removal for proposed improvements, effects on erosion and drainage, the species' long-term value and growth rate, ecological value for wildlife, the number and distribution of trees in the area, how many trees the parcel can support, and whether reasonable alternatives to removal exist. 2228.
Violations & Fines
Removing or over-pruning a Heritage Tree without a permit, or vandalizing, mutilating or destroying one beyond an approved permit's scope, is a violation of § 10-1.09. Under subsection (j), a court may assess a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation, rising to $5,000 per tree or the tree's replacement value under the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers' Guide for Plant Appraisal, whichever is higher, plus injunctive relief and the City's litigation costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my backyard in Los Banos?
What triggers the Heritage Tree removal permit?
What is the penalty for illegally removing a Heritage Tree in Los Banos?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Banos
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Banos to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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