Rohnert Park, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Rohnert Park, 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 required
- Community development director permit to alter/remove a private tree
- Application needs
- Site plan, arborist health report, photographs required
- Review body
- City arborist reviews every application before decision
- Replacement rule
- Removed trees replaced or an in-lieu fee paid
- Security deposit
- 30% of tree value up to $25,000, capped at $30,000
Summary
No one may alter, remove or relocate a private tree in Rohnert Park without a tree removal permit from the community development director, unless the tree is exempt under § 17.15.030(B). Permits require a site plan, a certified arborist's health report and photographs, and violations are penalized under Chapter 1.16 per § 17.15.080.
No person shall alter, remove, or relocate any tree on private property that is not exempted by this chapter, unless the community development director or his/her designee has issued a tree removal permit in accordance with Section 17.15.040 (Permit processing). ... A letter or report describing the health and condition of the tree prepared and signed by a licensed and certified arborist; and ... Photographs of the tree(s) to be altered, removed, or relocated. ... A violation of any of the provisions or failure to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 1.16 of the city's Municipal Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
030(B). 040(A) lists what an applicant must submit: a scaled site plan showing the tree and nearby structures and utilities, a description of the tree's number, type, diameter and height, a health and condition report signed by a licensed and certified arborist, and photographs of the tree. 25. 040(B)(3). 030, either through an in-lieu fee to the recreation department or by planting an equivalent number of new trees approved by the city arborist. 070: thirty percent of the tree's value for the first $25,000 and twenty percent above that, capped at $30,000 total, refundable after the replacement trees survive twenty-four months.
060 requires protective barriers at least five feet high placed at the dripline of any tree being preserved, with no storage, parking or trenching inside that dripline.
Violations & Fines
Removing or altering a protected tree without a permit, or violating any tree preservation requirement, is punishable under Chapter 1.16 of the Rohnert Park Municipal Code per § 17.15.080. The city can also seek judicial relief, including recovery of the tree's replacement value calculated under the § 17.15.050(B) formula, independent of any criminal or infraction penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my property in Rohnert Park?
What has to go into a Rohnert Park tree removal application?
Do I have to replace a tree I'm allowed to remove?
Is there a deposit required for tree protection during construction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Rohnert Park to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle tree removal & heritage trees.