Siskiyou County, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Siskiyou County's code does not contain a heritage-, native-, or oak-tree removal permit ordinance for private property in the unincorporated area. Property owners generally may remove trees on their own residential parcels without a county tree permit. The one tree-focused part of the zoning code is the Timberland Production Zone (TPZ), Title 10, Chapter 6, Article 51, which is a tax-and-land-use classification for commercial timberland - it is meant "to encourage the production of timber, to protect immature trees so that they may eventually be harvested," and it restricts parcel division (no division below 40 acres under Section 10-6.5106). The TPZ does not act as a homeowner tree-removal permit. The actual regulation of cutting timber for sale is a state matter: under California's Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act, harvesting commercial timber generally requires a Timber Harvesting Plan (THP) or exemption approved by CAL FIRE, not a county permit. There is no county oak-woodland conservation ordinance, so oak removal on private land is not separately permitted by the county. Trees may, however, be subject to the fire-clearance duties of Title 3, Chapter 3 (clearing within defensible space and around chimneys). For removal tied to grading or a building project, the county building and zoning standards (including erosion control in Section 10-6.5606) may apply.