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

Most of unincorporated Shasta County is mapped by CAL FIRE as State Responsibility Area, much of it Very High or High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Under California Public Resources Code Section 4291(a), property owners in SRAs must (1) maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of every structure (but not beyond the property line), (2) remove any portion of a tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe, (3) maintain trees, shrubs, and other plants adjacent to or overhanging a building free of dead or dying wood, and (4) keep roofs free of leaves, needles, and other vegetative materials. In August 2025 the Shasta County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance SCC 2025-03 enacting Chapter 8.10 (Defensible Space for Fire Protection) of the Shasta County Code. Section 8.10.040 requires that 'on all parcels (except timber production parcels), a responsible party shall maintain defensible space of 100 feet from the exterior perimeter of any improvement on the responsible party's parcel,' with reduced perimeter requirements where the parcel boundary is closer than 100 feet. Section 8.10.050 governs vegetation management methods: 'Tree stumps shall be cut no higher than eight (8) inches above ground level' and 'on-site chipping of trees or vegetation is permitted provided materials are dispersed to a depth not exceeding six (6) inches.' The Fire Warden and designees administer and enforce the chapter throughout all unincorporated territory. Shasta County does not impose a county-wide tree-removal permit on private residential parcels: tree management in the unincorporated area runs through (a) state defensible-space law (PRC 4291), (b) state timber-conversion law administered by CAL FIRE under PRC 4581, and (c) Zoning Ordinance / CEQA review on development projects.