El Cajon, CA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Designation authority
- City Council
- Qualifying criteria
- Rarity, age, history, abnormality, scenic value
- Removal requires
- Council approval weighing listed factors
- Possible removal conditions
- Replacement planting, maintenance program, in-lieu fee
- Applies to
- Trees on city-owned property only
- Penalty basis
- ECMC § 9.56.170
Summary
El Cajon does not protect tree species by blanket rule. Instead the city council individually designates "landmark trees" on city-owned property under Municipal Code Section 9.56.150, based on species rarity, old age, historic association, abnormality, or scenic value, and a designated tree can be removed only after council approval.
A. The city council may designate as a "landmark tree" any tree on city property for the purpose of protecting trees of historic value or unusual qualities from damage or destruction. B. A tree may qualify for the designation of landmark tree if it meets one or more of the following criteria; species rarity, old age, association with a historical event or person, abnormality or scenic enhancement. C. Landmark trees shall be removed only after approval of the council based upon, but not limited to, the following considerations: 1. The condition of the landmark tree with respect to its general health, status as a public nuisance, danger of falling, proximity to existing or proposed structures, interference with utility services, and potential for endangering the health of human and plant life.
Full Breakdown
150 lets the city council designate any tree on city property as a landmark tree to protect it for its historic value or unusual qualities. A tree qualifies if it shows species rarity, old age, association with a historical event or person, abnormality, or scenic enhancement. Once designated, a landmark tree can be removed only with council approval, and the council must weigh the tree's general health, whether it is a public nuisance or falling hazard, its proximity to structures, interference with utilities, and danger to human or plant life; the necessity of removal for construction or reasonable enjoyment of the property; topographic effects on soil and water retention; the number, species, size, and location of nearby trees and the effect on shade, air quality, historic value, and scenic beauty; and sound forestry practices for how many healthy trees a parcel can support.
The council can attach conditions to any removal approval, including on-site or off-site replacement planting, an ongoing maintenance and care program for the property's remaining landmark trees, or a donation of planting stock or an in-lieu fee for replacement elsewhere. 160.
Violations & Fines
Removing or damaging a designated landmark tree without council approval is a misdemeanor or infraction under Section 9.56.170's penalty clause. The violator also owes the tree's appraised replacement value, calculated under the International Society of Arboriculture's published valuation guide, in addition to any court-imposed fine or jail sentence, and the city may separately abate the condition as a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does El Cajon protect specific tree species from removal citywide?
Can a designated landmark tree ever be removed?
What conditions can the council attach to a landmark tree removal?
Does the landmark tree program cover trees on my private property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Cajon
California rules heatmap·Compare El Cajon to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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How other cities in San Diego County handle protected tree species.