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

Woodland Municipal Code § 12.48.020 defines a 'heritage oak tree' as any valley oak (Quercus lobata) of good health and form with a trunk diameter of 33 inches or more measured at 54 inches above ground (DBH). Under § 12.48.100, it is unlawful to remove, destroy, damage, mutilate, top, poison, or apply herbicide to a heritage oak anywhere on developed residential property, or to a tree of 24 inches DBH or greater within 20 feet of the back of the walk, without first submitting a Tree Modification Review Form to the Community Services Director and obtaining an encroachment permit if the work touches the public right-of-way.

That form must include a bid or estimate from a business with an ISA-certified arborist on staff, and if the arborist doesn't recommend the requested maintenance, the owner must submit the arborist's written recommendation along with the request. A separate prohibition, § 12.48.110, bars willfully destroying a heritage oak, landmark tree, specimen tree, or established tree on commercial or undeveloped property except under the preservation and replacement standards in §§ 12.48.130 through 12.48.170, and treats out-of-standard pruning as 'damage.' Violators face escalating administrative fines under § 12.48.240: $1,000 per tree for a heritage oak removed on private property without a permit or Tree Preservation Plan, plus in-kind replacement, with each day of continued violation a separate offense; $500 for cutting an unapproved tree of 24 to 36 inches DBH on developed residential property, and $1,000 for one over 36 inches, on top of any repair or replacement costs. The Woodland City Council adopted these standards by Ordinance 1698 in 2022 to prioritize conserving the City's valley oaks (§ 12.48.010).