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

Woodland Municipal Code § 12.48.050(B) makes it unlawful for anyone besides a City worker or contractor to move, remove, top, cut down, poison, or burn a street tree, or otherwise cause its unnatural death, without a tree permit from the Community Services Director. Section 12.48.060 splits the removal decision by size: for street trees under 24 inches DBH, the Parks Superintendent considers the request; for trees 24 inches DBH or greater, the Community Services Director may approve removal only after a recommendation from the Urban Forest Subcommittee, and once removal is approved, notice must be posted on the tree at least 48 hours before the work.

Before granting any removal permit, the Director must evaluate the tree against ISA standards, weighing the likelihood the tree would be seriously injured anyway, its health and desirability as a species, whether its size or condition threatens property damage, the condition of nearby street trees, and whether less drastic alternatives exist. The Director can condition a removal permit on the permittee replacing the tree at their own cost, since the City does not provide replacement as a service, and all approved work must finish within 60 days of issuance unless the Director extends that window.

A denied removal request can be appealed to the Parks and Recreation Commission within 10 days of the written decision, and from there to the City Council within 10 days of the Commission's mailed decision (§ 12.48.070). Removing a street tree without a permit is a separate offense for each tree and each day the violation continues, and the violator remains responsible for the tree's repair or replacement costs under § 12.48.240.