Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 12.08 (Tree Ordinance) regulates pruning, alteration, and removal of public and 'significant' trees in the City of Sonoma. Pruning of public trees and any alteration/removal of significant trees requires a permit, with ISA-certified arborist standards under SMC § 12.08.060.
SMC Chapter 12.08 declares trees a community asset and applies citywide. SMC § 12.08.030 governs trees on public property (street trees, park trees) — no person may plant, prune, remove, or otherwise injure a public tree without a permit issued by the public works director / city arborist. SMC § 12.08.032 defines 'significant trees' on private property by species, diameter, and historic value; SMC § 12.08.050 requires a tree alteration / removal / relocation permit before significant trees are removed or substantially altered. SMC § 12.08.035 requires an ISA-certified arborist report for any new development application. SMC § 12.08.060 sets pruning and trimming regulations and guidelines, generally aligning with ANSI A300 industry standards and prohibiting topping. Routine maintenance pruning of non-significant private trees that removes less than 30 % of the canopy is typically exempt. (Note: Sonoma County's separate, broader Tree Protection Ordinance in County Code Ch. 26D / Article 67 applies in the unincorporated area, not inside the City of Sonoma.)
Removing or topping a public or significant tree without a permit is a misdemeanor or infraction under SMC § 12.08 and SMC Title 1 (§ 1.20.010). Violators may be required to replace the tree with equivalent canopy or pay in-lieu mitigation. Sonoma County's parallel ordinance applies in-lieu fees of $500 - $3,500 per protected tree removed in the unincorporated area (Sonoma County Code § 26D); inside the City, replacement is determined case-by-case under SMC § 12.08.050.
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