Menifee does not maintain a published 'protected species list' the way coastal cities like Thousand Oaks do, but §9.200.050 (Protection of Existing Trees) functionally protects any tree designated for retention during site review — typically native California oaks, mature shade species, and any tree planted as a CEQA mitigation condition. During construction, every retained tree must be enclosed by a chain-link fence or equivalent BEFORE any grading or building permit issues, no fill or excavation may occur within the dripline, no root-zone compaction is allowed, and no root cuts may be made closer than 3.5 times the trunk diameter (measured at 4 ft from grade). California state law (Public Resources Code §21083.4) requires CEQA mitigation for oak woodland conversions — Menifee enforces this through site-specific conditions, not a categorical species ban.
Protection measures required by §9.200.050: (1) Chain-link or equivalent construction barrier installed around the dripline of every retained tree BEFORE any grading or building permit issues; (2) No substantial disruption or removal of structural or absorptive roots; (3) No fill materials placed within the dripline; (4) No excavation within the dripline; (5) No substantial soil compaction within the dripline; (6) No root cuts within 3.5 × trunk diameter measured at 4 ft from grade (so for an 8-inch oak, no root cuts within 28 inches of the trunk); (7) Project design must consider revising structure location to avoid conflicts (§9.200.050). Beyond the city code, California Native Oak protection (PRC §21083.4 and CCR Title 14) governs CEQA-level oak woodland conversion — counties of 250,000+ population (Riverside qualifies) must mitigate oak woodland loss as part of EIR. The 2014 California Native Plant Protection Act (Fish & Game Code §1900 et seq.) protects state-listed rare plants, though these are typically not subject to municipal review.
Per §9.200.070, damaging a protected tree during construction — through soil compaction, root cutting, fill placement, or trunk injury — is an infraction or misdemeanor. The City typically holds construction performance bonds that can be drawn down for tree damage. Mechanical damage to the root crown that causes 'girdling of the cambium layer' is independently prohibited (§9.200.060). A damaged or dying tree may have to be removed and replaced at the 3:1 ratio under §9.200.030 at the contractor or property owner's cost.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Menifee, CA
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Menifee, CA
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Menifee, CA
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Menifee, CA
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Menifee, CA
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Menifee, CA
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