Yorba Linda, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Yorba Linda, 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
- Regulated tree size
- 3-inch trunk diameter at 2 feet high
- Permit issuer
- Community Development Director
- Appeal window
- 10 days to City Council
- Emergency removal
- Police, fire or public works may authorize
- Right-of-way trees
- Permit required, no listed exceptions
- General penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
In the City of Yorba Linda, cutting down, destroying or removing a tree from the public right-of-way or from an individual vacant lot requires a permit from the Community Development Director under Municipal Code Section 16.08.030. The Director weighs the tree's health, its effect on erosion and drainage, and neighborhood tree standards before deciding.
A. No person shall cut down, destroy or remove any tree growing within the City limits in the public right-of-way without a permit issued by the Community Development Director. B. No person shall cut down, destroy or remove any tree growing within the City limits on an individual vacant lot without a permit issued by the Community Development Director in conjunction with any required building, excavation or grading permits.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 16.08, Tree Preservation, requires a permit before anyone cuts down, destroys or removes a tree growing within the City limits in the public right-of-way, or on an individual vacant lot, the latter reviewed alongside any required building, excavation or grading permit, under Section 16.08.030. Section 16.08.020 defines a regulated tree as any live plant with a single trunk at least three inches in diameter, measured two feet above ground level. Section 16.08.040 lists the criteria the Community Development Director must weigh: the tree's disease, general health and danger of falling; its proximity to structures and utility lines; the topography and the tree's effect on erosion, soil retention and surface-water flow; how many trees already exist in the neighborhood and any neighborhood tree standards; the parcel's future street right-of-way and development plans; the Yorba Linda Master Landscape/Streetscape Plan's approved plant palette; and how many healthy trees the parcel can support under good forestry practice.
Under Section 16.08.050, the Director may condition a permit on replacement trees of a specified number, size, type and location, and may require safety precautions to protect adjacent property during removal. Section 16.08.070 lets an approved subdivision map itself serve as the removal permit for trees shown on the grading plan, without a separate application. Section 16.08.080 gives the applicant or any affected resident or property owner ten days from the decision to file a written notice of appeal with the Community Development Director, stating the grounds for appeal, before the matter goes to the City Council. Section 16.08.090 allows police, fire or public works personnel to authorize emergency removal of a tree that poses an immediate hazard.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 16.08 sets no dedicated fine for removing a tree without a permit, so the City's general penalty in Section 1.12.010 applies: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with the City Attorney able to reduce the charge to an infraction, and each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my Yorba Linda property?
Can I appeal a denied tree removal permit?
Can a hazardous tree be removed without a permit in an emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yorba Linda
California rules heatmap·Compare Yorba Linda to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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