Tree removal permit rules in Ontario, CA β sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances β list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Private yard trees in Ontario can usually be removed without a city permit, but parkway street trees are city-owned and need a Public Works permit. Commercial landscape plan trees require plan revision.
Ontario does not have a generalized heritage or private property tree ordinance, so homeowners may usually remove a tree on their own lot without a city permit, subject to HOA rules and any recorded landscape plan. Street trees in the parkway strip, however, are city-owned under Ontario Municipal Code Chapter 2 tree provisions and cannot be removed by a resident. Removal requires application to Ontario Public Works, review of the tree's health and safety condition, and often replacement at the owner's expense. For commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties built under a city-approved site plan, trees shown on the approved landscape plan are considered required landscaping. Removal requires a revision to the approved plan through Planning and Building with one-for-one replacement. California Public Resources Code 21083.4 protects oak woodlands from conversion but applies mainly to rural development. Removal contractors operating in Ontario must hold a valid California contractors license and carry insurance.
Illegal removal of a city street tree is cited by Public Works with mandatory replacement plus recovery costs. Removing required landscape plan trees at a commercial site triggers Planning enforcement and potentially a stop work order until replacement is approved.
Ontario, CA
Outdoor music is regulated under OMC Title 5 Chapter 29 and the special-event permit process. Venues and events with amplified sound need a city permit; resi...
Ontario, CA
Aircraft noise from Ontario International Airport (ONT) is regulated by the FAA, not the city. ONT runs an FAA Part 150 noise compatibility program; federal ...
Ontario, CA
Ontario requires a building permit for masonry walls and any fence over 7 feet under the California Building Code. Retaining walls over 4 feet also require p...
Ontario, CA
Ontario fence requirements include zoning-based heights, setbacks, sight triangles, buffer walls on industrial edges, and CBC structural standards. Pool, ret...
Ontario, CA
Ontario limits residential fence heights under the Development Code. Typical maximums are 6 feet rear/side, 3 feet front, and 42 inches in sight-distance tri...
Ontario, CA
Ontario requires dogs to be leashed off-property under OMC Title 6. Maximum leash length is 6 feet, with owner control required in all public spaces except d...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle tree removal & heritage trees.
See how Ontario's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.