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

There is no general permit to trim a tree on your own private property in unincorporated Glenn County. Two code provisions control. First, Glenn County Code Chapter 15.12 (Encroachment Permits) makes it unlawful to 'plant, remove, cut, cut down, injure or destroy any tree, shrub, plant or flower growing within any county roadway' without an encroachment permit from the Public Works Director (Section 15.12.010); doing so without a permit is a misdemeanor and the violator is liable for resulting county costs. Public utilities can obtain an annual permit to trim, brace or perform acts on roadside trees, but not to remove them (Section 15.12.060). Second, the property-maintenance nuisance rules in Section 1.15.022 require owners to maintain trees so there is at least seven feet of clearance over sidewalks and fourteen feet over streets, and the Weed Control chapter (7.28.020 and 7.28.030) treats 'low hanging tree foliage' and 'trees with low branches, rank growth and heavy foliage near road and highway intersections which obstruct visibility' as a public nuisance creating traffic hazards. So while routine pruning of yard trees needs no county permit, trimming that touches the public right-of-way, or failing to keep branches clear of sidewalks, streets and sightlines, can trigger county action.