Truckee, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Truckee, 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
- Governing section
- TMC § 13.01.330
- Applies to
- Trees within the street right-of-way only
- Removal standard
- Approved only if necessity for removal exists
- Stump depth
- At least two feet below grade
- Maintenance duty
- Planting permittee under § 13.01.320
- First-offense fine
- $100 under § 13.01.360
Summary
Removing or trimming a tree standing in a Truckee street right-of-way requires an encroachment permit, and the Town only approves a removal permit when a genuine necessity for removal exists. Approved removals must take the stump out at least two feet below grade.
Trimming of trees will be permitted only when and in the manner authorized by a permit issued under this ordinance so that the shapeliness of the tree may be preserved. ... An application for removal of a tree will be approved and permit issued only when a necessity for removal exists. When a tree is removed under authority of a permit, the entire stump shall be taken out for a distance of at least two feet (2') below the ground surface unless otherwise specified in the permit, and the hole shall be removed from the site and the right-of-way restored to its former condition.
Full Breakdown
01 encroachment permit system: trimming is permitted only when and how a permit authorizes it, so the tree's shapeliness is preserved, and a removal application is approved only when a necessity for removal actually exists. When a permitted removal happens, the entire stump must be taken out to a depth of at least two feet below the ground surface unless the permit specifies otherwise, and the site must be restored to its former condition. 320, which requires anyone who plants a tree in the right-of-way to agree in the application to maintain it in a neat, healthy, and safe condition and to remove it if the Department directs, at the applicant's expense.
The Department can also refuse a planting permit outright if the proposed tree or its root growth would impede travel, disturb the right-of-way, or interfere with existing utilities. This provision reaches only trees within the Town's street right-of-way; tree rules for private property elsewhere in Truckee fall under the Development Code, Title 18, which is a separate instrument from the general ordinances covered here.
Violations & Fines
Removing, trimming, or damaging a right-of-way tree without a permit, or failing to maintain a permitted tree as required, is an infraction under Section 13.01.360: $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation of the same section within twelve months, and $500 for a third or later violation in that period, enforced by the Community Development Department's Code Enforcement Officers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut down a tree in the parking strip in front of my Truckee house?
How deep does the stump have to come out after an approved removal?
Who is responsible for maintaining a tree I planted in the right-of-way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Truckee
California rules heatmap·Compare Truckee to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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