Pasadena, CA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Municipal Code §§ 8.52.065, 8.52.085(A)
- Designation
- Nominated to historic preservation commission
- Permit
- Required to prune, injure or remove
- Misdemeanor
- Up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
- Civil penalty
- Up to $5,000 per tree
- Relocation
- Landmark trees cannot be relocated
- Decision timeline
- Within 15 business days of application
Summary
Pasadena protects landmark trees citywide under Municipal Code Chapter 8.52. Any person or city agency may nominate a tree to the historic preservation commission for landmark designation under Chapter 17.62, and once designated it is unlawful to prune, injure, or remove the tree anywhere in the city without a permit issued by the city manager.
Any person or city agency may propose to the historic preservation commission that a tree meets the criteria set forth in Section 8.52.020 and should be designated as a landmark under Chapter 17.62 and, thereby, as a landmark tree under this Chapter 8.52. ... The following are prohibited acts under this chapter unless expressly exempted: A. Landmark Tree. To prune, injure, or to remove without a permit, a landmark tree located anywhere in the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
62 because it is one of the city's largest or oldest specimens of its species, has historical significance tied to a building, site, street, person or event, or serves as a defining feature of a neighborhood. 085(A), pruning, injuring or removing a designated landmark tree anywhere in Pasadena, on public or private property, is prohibited unless a permit is first obtained. 070(C). 62 before approving removal. 075(B). 077 makes them ineligible for the relocation option available to other protected species. 160(A)-(B), and the city may separately pursue a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per tree, or the tree's full appraised replacement value under the ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal, whichever is higher, plus a one-year hold on building permits for the affected address.
Violations & Fines
Pruning, injuring or removing a landmark tree without a permit is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, or a lesser infraction, under Section 8.52.160(A)-(B). The city can also sue for a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per tree or its full appraised replacement value, whichever is higher, and may suspend all building and use permits at the address for one year after an unpermitted removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can nominate a tree as a Pasadena landmark tree?
Can I remove a landmark tree from my own property in Pasadena?
What happens if I remove a landmark tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
California rules heatmap·Compare Pasadena to another location·View the California tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Heritage & Protected Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle heritage & protected trees.