Santa Maria, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Any tree growing in a City parkway, easement, right-of-way or other public property is off-limits to unauthorized cutting. Section 8-8.12(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. To apply, a requester files with the Recreation and Parks office, states the specific reason for removal, and pays a permit fee set by City Council resolution; the Director investigates before granting or denying the request (Section 8-8.12(b)-(c)).

If a healthy, live tree is approved for removal, the requester pays the removal cost, which can be estimated by the City or a private tree contractor subject to City inspection, and must post two replacement trees of at least 24-inch box size plus a cash deposit to guarantee job completion and cleanup (Section 8-8.12(d)-(g)). Dead, diseased or structurally hazardous trees get relief from those conditions: if the Director's arborist finds the tree died or was damaged by natural causes, the City removes and replaces it at no cost to the owner, but if the damage was caused by something other than nature, the owner pays for removal and replacement after being served a correction notice (Section 8-8.13).

Separately, any maintenance touching the root zone, canopy or trunk of a street tree, including spraying, root-pruning, staking or trenching within the drip line, also needs a Recreation and Parks permit under Section 8-8.11, and topping trees into a stubbed shape is flatly prohibited under Section 8-8.16.