Carson does not maintain a separately enumerated 'heritage tree' or 'landmark tree' registry in its Municipal Code. Instead, all parkway and right-of-way trees are uniformly protected under CMC Article 3 Chapter 9, and unauthorized removal is valued at the tree's full appraised worth under the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers Guide for Plant Appraisal (10th Ed.).
Unlike some California cities (e.g., Santa Cruz Ch. 9.56, Diamond Bar §22.38, Pacifica Ch. 12) that designate specific 'heritage' or 'landmark' trees by species, diameter, or historic association, Carson's code takes a flat-protection approach: every parkway tree is protected under Article 3 Chapter 9 regardless of age or species. Tree value for enforcement is determined by the Guide for Plant Appraisal (Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, 10th Edition) — a methodology used statewide for large/old/significant specimens — so an unauthorized removal of a mature parkway specimen can carry a significant appraised-value penalty even without formal 'heritage' designation. Carson also relies on the city's adopted Parkway Tree Master Plan and Authorized List of Carson Trees (Exhibit A to Chapter 9) to designate permissible species. No state heritage-tree preemption applies; California's heritage-tree concept is purely local.
Because Carson protects all parkway trees uniformly, unauthorized removal or damage to a mature or significant tree is prosecuted under the general Chapter 9 misdemeanor: $1,000 fine OR appraised value (Guide for Plant Appraisal, 10th Ed.), whichever is greater, plus up to 6 months jail. Each day is a separate offense.
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