Sacramento County, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Sacramento County, 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
- Covers
- native oaks 6in+ diameter
- Area
- designated urban unincorporated area
- Permit from
- Director of Public Works
- Penalty
- up to 6 months jail / $500
Summary
In the county's designated urban area, no one may remove, kill, or grade within the dripline of a native oak six inches or wider without a tree permit from Public Works.
No person shall trench, grade or fill within the dripline of any tree or destroy, kill or remove any tree as defined, in the designated urban area of the unincorporated area of Sacramento County, on any property, public or private, without a tree permit, or unless authorized as a condition of a discretionary project approval by the Board of Supervisors, County Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, the Zoning Administrator or the Subdivision Review Committee.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
The Tree Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 19.12) requires a permit before anyone trenches, grades, fills within the dripline of, or destroys, kills or removes a native oak with a trunk six inches or more in diameter, on public or private land within the county's designated urban area. The Director of Public Works reviews applications against eleven factors including tree health, age, and effect on erosion and neighborhood character. A handful of pre-1981 large-lot subdivisions like Sierra Oaks and Arden Park Vista are exempt, except within the 100-year floodplain.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected oak without a permit is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail or a $500 fine, plus in-kind tree replacement or payment into the Tree Preservation Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to any tree, or just oaks?
Can I remove a hazardous oak without waiting for a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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