Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 16.34 (Significant Trees Protection) requires a County permit to remove or to trim more than one-third of the foliage of any 'significant tree' within the Coastal Zone of unincorporated Santa Cruz County.
Under SCCC 16.34.040, no person may remove, cut down, trim more than one-third of the green foliage of, poison, or otherwise kill any 'significant tree' within the Coastal Zone without first obtaining a significant tree removal approval under SCCC Ch. 18.10 (Level II discretionary permit). Per SCCC 16.34.030, within the Urban Services Line or Rural Services Line a 'significant tree' is any tree ≥ 20 inches d.b.h. (about 5 feet in circumference), any sprout clump of five or more stems each > 12 inches d.b.h., or any group of five or more trees on one parcel each > 12 inches d.b.h. Outside those service lines, in areas visible from a scenic road, beach, or designated scenic resource area, the threshold is 40 inches d.b.h. (about 10 feet in circumference). Trees in sensitive habitats (Ch. 16.32) are also covered. Outside the Coastal Zone, county-wide tree-trimming on private property is generally not permitted-regulated, but California state law (Pub. Resources Code § 4291 defensible space; Civil Code § 833 boundary tree co-ownership) still applies.
Violations are enforced under SCCC Title 19 (Enforcement of Land Use Regulations) and SCCC Title 1.12. Hearing-officer penalties for unauthorized tree removal are deposited into the Tree Mitigation Fund (SCCC 16.34.110). Replacement plantings or in-lieu fees (SCCC 16.34.075) may be required.
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