Camarillo, CA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Historic tree test
- Notable age, type, or historic association (§13.12.020)
- Who designates
- Planning commission resolution (memorial: city council)
- Removal approval
- Planning commission required before removal (§13.12.060(B))
- Memorial tree removal
- Requires city council approval
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under Chapter 1.12 (§13.12.100)
- Alternative to prosecution
- Replace tree or pay ISA-appraised value
Summary
Camarillo designates certain street and public-area trees as historic, specimen or memorial by resolution of the planning commission or city council. Under Municipal Code Section 13.12.060(B), the director of public works otherwise handles maintenance and removal of city trees, but a historic or specimen tree cannot be removed without prior approval of the planning commission, and a memorial tree cannot be removed without prior approval of the city council.
The director is responsible for the inspection, maintenance, removal and replacement of all approved, specimen, historic and memorial trees within city streets and public areas as defined in this chapter, except that no tree designated as an historic or specimen tree may be removed without prior approval of the planning commission and no tree designated as a memorial tree may be removed without prior approval of the city council.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
020). A 'specimen tree' receives the same kind of resolution for trees of high value because of type or age, and a 'memorial tree' is one procured and deeded to the city in memory of a person or event and designated by city council resolution. 060(B) puts a second layer of review on top of the director's ordinary maintenance authority: while the director of public works normally inspects, maintains, removes and replaces approved trees on city property, a historic or specimen tree cannot be removed without the planning commission's prior approval, and a memorial tree cannot be removed without the city council's prior approval.
12 of the code, and gives the director discretion to instead require the violator to replace the tree with one of comparable value or to reimburse the city for the tree's value as appraised by an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist using the current edition of the Guide for Plant Appraisal. 030 must show the location of every tree in the city that has been designated specimen, historic or memorial, so the designation is tracked on the city's official planting map, not left informal.
Violations & Fines
Removing or damaging a designated historic, specimen or memorial tree without the required commission or council approval is a misdemeanor under Section 13.12.100, enforced through Chapter 1.12 of the municipal code. In lieu of prosecution, the director of public works can instead require the violator to plant a replacement tree of comparable value or to reimburse the city for the tree's appraised value, calculated by a certified arborist using the ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a tree become a designated historic tree in Camarillo?
Can the city just remove a historic tree if it's diseased or dying?
What's the penalty for cutting down a protected tree without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Camarillo
California rules heatmap·Compare Camarillo to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Heritage & Protected Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle heritage & protected trees.