Rancho Cordova, CA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Landmark trees
- Any tree designated by city council resolution as historically/landscape-significant
- Protected native oaks
- Valley, interior live, blue, or oracle oak: 6+ inch trunk diameter
- Permit needed for
- Removal, killing, damage, or major trimming
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor: up to 6 months jail and/or $1,000 fine per day
- Replacement
- 1 tree per tree removed (single/duplex lots); 1:1 diameter ratio otherwise
Summary
Rancho Cordova's tree ordinance singles out two groups of trees for extra protection: native oaks (valley, interior live, blue, and oracle oak) once their trunk reaches six inches in diameter, and any tree the city council formally designates as a "landmark tree" for its historical or landscape significance, regardless of species or size. Damaging, killing, or removing either without an approved tree permit is a misdemeanor.
M. "Landmark trees" means any trees designated by council through resolution as a vital and historical part of the city's landscape such that the trees need to be designated as landmarks for protection and preservation. ...
V. "Protected tree" means:
1. Native oak – Quercus lobata, valley oak; Quercus wislizenii, interior live oak; Quercus douglasii, blue oak; or Quercus morehus, oracle oak – having a trunk diameter of at least six inches or greater; or
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
Landmark trees are a council-designated category, separate from the size-based "protected tree" definition: the city council can vote by resolution to designate any tree, of any species or size, as a landmark because of its historical or landscape value, which brings it under the same permit protection as a protected tree. Native oaks (Quercus lobata, Q. wislizenii, Q. douglasii, and Q. morehus) qualify automatically once their trunk reaches six inches in diameter, without needing a council designation. Removing, killing, damaging, or performing major trimming on a landmark or protected native oak without an approved tree permit from the public works director triggers the same misdemeanor penalty and replacement requirement that applies to any other protected tree.
Violations & Fines
Removing, damaging, or killing a landmark or protected heritage tree without a permit is a misdemeanor under RCMC § 19.12, up to six months in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine per day of violation, plus mandatory tree replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree a "landmark tree" in Rancho Cordova?
Are all oak trees in Rancho Cordova protected?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Heritage & Protected Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle heritage & protected trees.