Tree removal permit rules in Solano County, CA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Unincorporated Solano County does not have a heritage-tree or general tree-removal ordinance in its County Code. Trees on private property may generally be removed without a county permit, subject to grading rules in Chapter 31 (Grading, Drainage, Land Leveling, and Erosion Control) and any tree-mitigation conditions attached through Chapter 28 (Zoning) discretionary permits. Incorporated cities differ sharply - Benicia and Vacaville each protect heritage or significant trees by permit.
A review of the Solano County Code published by Code Publishing turns up no standalone heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinance for the unincorporated county. Tree removal on private property in the unincorporated area is therefore generally allowed without a county permit, with these caveats: (1) Chapter 31 (Grading, Drainage, Land Leveling, and Erosion Control) regulates ground-disturbing work that may accompany large-scale clearing; (2) discretionary permits issued under Chapter 28 (Zoning Ordinance) - e.g., subdivision maps, use permits, design review - frequently include tree-preservation or replacement conditions; (3) trees within state or county road right-of-way are controlled by the Department of Public Works and Caltrans (Streets and Highways Code Section 22260 et seq.); (4) trees within a watercourse or riparian buffer may trigger California Department of Fish & Wildlife notification under Fish & Game Code Section 1602. Inside Solano County cities the rules vary: Benicia Municipal Code Chapter 12.24 prohibits removal or alteration of any designated heritage tree without a permit; Vacaville Municipal Code Section 14.09.250.060 prohibits removal of any tree six inches or more diameter at breast height on public or private property without authorization.
Because there is no county tree ordinance, removing a tree on private land typically is not itself a violation. Violations can still arise from: (1) clearing without a required grading permit under Chapter 31; (2) breaching a tree-preservation condition of a prior discretionary permit; (3) altering a riparian or wetland area without state agency authorization. City heritage-tree violations (Benicia, Vacaville) carry separate municipal penalties and replanting requirements.
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See how Solano County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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