Rialto, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Rialto, 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
- Street tree removal
- Written permission required first
- Permit validity
- 30 days from issuance
- Dead-tree threshold
- One-third of crown dead
- Healthy trees
- Not approved for removal
Summary
Removing a street or parkway tree requires prior written permission from the public services director, and the city's published criteria allow removal only of dead, hazardous, damaging, or incompatible trees; healthy trees are not approved for removal.
City of Rialto Criteria for Tree Removal: 1. Trees that are dead or in significant and irreversible decline. Significant decline is defined as dead limbs composing more than one-third (1/3) of the tree crown. 2. Trees that have a potentially hazardous and uncorrectable structure. 3. Trees that are stunted or malformed due to crowding from adjacent trees or structures. 4. Trees that have an insect or disease infestation that is not treatable and could cause tree mortality. 5. Trees that are causing damage to structures as follows: Sidewalks, curbs, drives, buildings, and other structures: Removal shall be granted if the cost to repair the damage exceeds the appraised value of the tree (using the appraisal method established by the International Society of Arboricultural), if the process of repair will compromise the health and safety of the tree, or if the tree is determined to be incompatible with the growing space available. ... The City of Rialto desires to maximize the value of its urban forest. Therefore, healthy trees will not be approved for removal for issues not specifically listed above.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
RMC 11.08.070 makes it unlawful to plant or remove any street tree without prior written permission from the director; permission is valid for 30 days and may be conditioned on replacement planting under the street tree plan (11.08.030). The city's published Criteria for Tree Removal authorizes removal for dead trees or trees in significant irreversible decline (more than one-third of the crown dead), potentially hazardous and uncorrectable structure, untreatable insect or disease infestation, or damage to sidewalks, curbs, buildings, or utilities where the repair cost exceeds the tree's appraised value. A trunk centered within five feet of a utility line is presumed to have caused the damage. The city may require reimbursement for removed or damaged public trees (11.08.080).
Violations & Fines
Willfully or negligently destroying, defacing, or injuring a public tree is unlawful (RMC 11.08.090), and the city may require reimbursement of the tree's value and replacement costs (11.08.080).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove the parkway tree in front of my house?
When will the city remove a street tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rialto
California rules heatmap·Compare Rialto 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 Bernardino County handle tree removal & heritage trees.