Manteca, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Manteca, 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
- Governing section
- MMC § 17.48.060(D)
- Applies to
- multi-family & nonresidential sites
- 2-6 inch tree
- replace with 24-inch box
- 6+ inch tree
- replace with 36-inch box
- Approval required
- Community Development Director, pre-removal
Summary
Manteca requires Community Development Director approval before removing landscaped trees on multi-family or nonresidential sites, then mandates replacement with a 24-inch or 36-inch box tree depending on the size removed.
Tree Removal and Replacement. For landscaping for multi-family and nonresidential development, removal of trees planted as part of an approved landscape plan shall be limited to trees that are in poor health, structurally distressed, or unsafe. The removal of a tree shall be the final recourse upon determining that it is infeasible to save the tree by any other method (e.g., pruning, treatment of diseases, fertilizing).
1. Removal Process
a. Prior to the removal of any tree, the Community Development Director's approval is required. Failure to obtain approval prior to removing a tree shall require the owner of the project to replace the removed tree as stated in this Section.
b. The application for request for removal shall include a statement of the health and condition of the trees to be removed by a certified arborist; an explanation of the reason(s) for removal; and a site plan indicating size, quantity, species, and location of the trees to be removed and replaced.
2. Replacement. Replacement of trees shall be required for trees removed and for trees severely and improperly trimmed and shall be as specified below in Table 17.48.060-1 (Tree Replacement Schedule). Replacement may be satisfied by relocation.
TABLE 17.48.060-1 TREE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE Size of Damaged/Removed Tree Replacement Tree Required 2—6 inches
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4829770; v11 updated 2026-04-21).
Full Breakdown
Manteca Municipal Code § 17.48.060(D) governs tree removal on multi-family and nonresidential landscaped sites: removal is limited to trees in poor health, structurally distressed, or unsafe, and is a last resort after pruning or treatment fails. Removal requires the Community Development Director's approval, based on a certified arborist's statement of the tree's condition and a site plan showing size, species, and location. Failing to get approval first does not excuse replacement. Table 17.48.060-1 sets the replacement size: a removed or severely damaged tree of 2 to 6 inches trunk diameter must be replaced with a 24-inch box tree, and one 6 inches or greater with a 36-inch box tree. Replacement may instead be satisfied by relocating an existing tree.
Violations & Fines
Removing a tree without prior Community Development Director approval still triggers the replacement duty; the Director enforces through the landscape plan and can require replanting or relocation to the required box size before sign-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Manteca require a permit to remove a tree?
What size tree must replace a removed tree in Manteca?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manteca
California rules heatmap·Compare Manteca to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Joaquin County handle tree removal & heritage trees.