Tuolumne County, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Tuolumne County does not have a general ordinance regulating routine trimming or pruning of ordinary trees on private property; there is no permit for ordinary maintenance pruning. Three narrower rules can apply. First, native oaks are protected under Chapter 9.24 (Premature Removal of Native Oak Trees, Ord. 2903, 2008), which is triggered by removal in connection with a discretionary land-development entitlement rather than by ordinary pruning, but heavy cutting that effectively kills or destroys a protected oak can fall under it. Second, the County Hazardous Vegetation Management Ordinance (Chapter 8.14) expects removal of 'ladder fuels' and low limbs that let fire climb into the tree canopy, and it calls for pruning low tree limbs as part of the Reduced Fuel Zone, while expressly not requiring removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. Third, the County's landscaping standards (Chapter 15.28.040(C)) direct that mature vegetation be planted no closer than 10 feet to power lines, reflecting the standard utility line-clearance practice (PRC 4293) that lets utilities prune trees away from energized lines. For ordinary shade-tree pruning on a residential lot, none of these create a permit requirement. Owners planning aggressive crown reduction of a large native oak should confirm with the Community Development Department first, because severe cutting of a protected oak can be treated as destruction under Chapter 9.24.