Santa Maria, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Santa Maria, 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
- cut/remove/destroy parkway or public tree (8-8.12(a))
- Issuing authority
- Director of Recreation and Parks
- Removal fee
- set by City Council resolution (8-8.12(b))
- Replacement
- min. two 24-inch box trees (8-8.12(f))
- Unauthorized damage penalty
- value of tree per City inventory (8-8.07(b))
- Appeal window
- 10 days to Recreation and Parks Commission
Summary
Removing, cutting down or destroying any tree in a City parkway, easement, right-of-way or other public property requires a Director of Recreation and Parks permit under Municipal Code Section 8-8.12. Approved healthy-tree removals are billed to the requester and must be replaced with two 24-inch box trees.
It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to cut down, remove, or destroy any tree growing upon any parkway, easement, right-of-way, or other publicly owned area without first securing a permit to do so from the Director of Recreation and Parks, unless the person, firm, or corporation is operating under an approved City contract or doing work according to plans and specifications authorized by another City department and approved by the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department or Director of Public Works... If the decision is to grant removal of a live, healthy tree, the costs for removal shall be paid by the requestor.
Full Breakdown
Any tree growing in a City parkway, easement, right-of-way or other public property is off-limits to unauthorized cutting. 12(a) makes it unlawful to cut down, remove, transplant or destroy such a tree without first securing a permit from the Director of Recreation and Parks, unless the work is done under an approved City contract or City-approved plans. 12(b)-(c)). 12(d)-(g)). 13). 16.
Violations & Fines
A tree cut, removed or damaged without the Section 8-8.12 permit is enforced under Section 8-8.03: the Director of Recreation and Parks or Public Works investigates and can order corrective action, appealable to the Recreation and Parks Commission within 10 days and, after that, to the City Manager within another 10 days. Section 8-8.07(b) adds a financial penalty equal to the tree's value under the City's tree inventory, plus the cost of a replacement tree, for damage or unauthorized destruction of a publicly owned tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a city tree in front of my house myself?
Who pays to remove an approved healthy tree?
What if I cut down a public tree without a permit?
Do I have to replace a tree I'm allowed to remove?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Maria to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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