Redding, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Redding, 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 threshold
- Trees over 6 inches dbh
- Permit validity
- 6 months, one 6-month extension
- Maximum fine
- $2,000 per tree removed
- After-the-fact relief
- Double application fee
- Protected trees
- Landmark/heritage trees, Chapter 13.40
Summary
Redding requires a tree removal permit before anyone kills, destroys, or removes a tree over six inches in trunk diameter, developed lot or vacant land, under Municipal Code Section 18.45.030. Skipping the permit exposes the owner to a fine of up to two thousand dollars per tree under Section 18.45.100, plus mandatory replacement planting.
No tree, regardless of species, that exceeds six inches dbh on any developed or undeveloped/vacant property in the city shall be destroyed, killed, or removed unless a tree removal permit is first obtained under the provisions of this chapter, except as may be permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 18.45.070 (Discretionary permits), or as may be expressly exempted under Section 18.45.040 (Exemptions).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 48).
Full Breakdown
The tree management chapter applies to any tree exceeding six inches diameter at breast height (dbh) on developed or undeveloped property citywide. 050. Before issuing the permit the director must inspect the site and can only approve removal if the tree's condition, disease, danger of falling, or interference with utilities or structures warrants it, or if preservation unreasonably restricts the property's economic use, or if the project sets aside open space to compensate for the loss. 40 unless that chapter specifically authorizes removal. 070 process instead, with tree mapping, a qualified professional's evaluation, and a construction protection plan for trees marked for preservation.
A handful of exemptions apply without a permit: removal ordered by the city manager, city engineer, or fire and police officials for an immediate hazard; removal on small developed nonresidential or fully built-out residential lots that carry no landmark designation; utility right-of-way clearing for safety; and trees a qualified professional certifies as unhealthy or dangerous. Once granted, a tree removal permit is valid for six months, with one six-month extension available.
Violations & Fines
Removing or killing a protected tree without a permit is punishable, at the city's discretion, by a fine of up to two thousand dollars per tree, a requirement to plant and maintain replacement trees in healthy condition for three years, and a prohibition on further development of the property, apart from corrective work, for up to two years from the notice of violation. An owner who removed a tree unlawfully on a developed parcel can seek relief only by applying for an after-the-fact permit under Section 18.45.050 and paying twice the normal application fee, and the city can still impose any of the above conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Redding?
What is the fine for removing a tree without a permit in Redding?
How long is a Redding tree removal permit good for?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redding
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