Pacifica, CA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Section 4-12-08 of the Pacifica Municipal Code, part of the City's Tree Preservation chapter, automatically designates as heritage trees any tree of the species Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak), Quercus lobata (valley oak), Aesculus californica (California buckeye), Pinus radiata (Monterey pine) or Sequoia sempervirens (redwood) with a trunk diameter of twelve inches or more, and any Heteromeles arbutifolia (toyon) with a trunk diameter of four inches DBH or more. Beyond those listed species, the Director can designate additional heritage trees that have historic value, are a specimen of any species, are of substantial size for their species, rank among the largest or oldest trees in Pacifica, or provide significant habitat value.

When the Director designates a new heritage tree, a notice must go up on the City's website and be posted on the tree itself, and the property owner is notified by regular mail. Any interested party then has ten calendar days from that posting or notification to appeal the designation to the City Clerk. An appeal triggers an administrative hearing before the City Manager, who must render a decision and give notice of it within thirty days of the hearing; the City Manager's decision is final, with no further administrative review available.

02(n), removing or damaging one without a permit exposes the owner to the same permit process and penalties that apply to any other protected tree.