Murrieta, CA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 16.42.050
- Native oak/native tree threshold
- DSH of 4.0 inches or more
- Other species threshold
- DSH of 9.5 inches or more
- Applies in
- All zoning districts (§ 16.42.020)
- Removal without permit
- Prohibited under § 16.42.060
Summary
Murrieta's tree preservation chapter protects mature native oaks, mature native trees, and mature trees of any species based on trunk diameter thresholds, and bars cutting them down without a permit under Municipal Code Section 16.42.050.
16.42.050 Protected Trees. A protected tree is any of the following:
A. Mature Native Oak Tree;
B. Mature Native Tree;
C. Mature Tree;
D. Historically Significant Tree; or,
E. Any tree required to be planted or preserved as environmental mitigation, or condition of approval for a discretionary permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-23: A Codification of the General Ordinances of the City of Murrieta, California through Ord. 634-26, passed 7-7-2026).
Full Breakdown
050 of the Murrieta Municipal Code defines a 'Protected Tree' as any Mature Native Oak Tree, Mature Native Tree, or Mature Tree, along with any Historically Significant Tree or any tree required as environmental mitigation or a permit condition. 5 inches DSH. Native Oak Trees are defined by genus Quercus, expressly naming the Coast Live Oak, Coastal Sage Scrub Oak, Engelman Oak, Scrub Oak, and Valley Oak; Native Trees include species such as California Sycamore, Western Cottonwood, California Bay Laurel, and California Black Walnut. 020 applies these protections in every zoning district, and where another local, state, or federal rule also protects the tree, the most restrictive standard controls.
030 carves out limited exemptions, including existing trees on single-family residential parcels under one acre (except for historically significant or mitigation trees), emergency removals confirmed by the director, police, or fire department, and trees removed to protect line-of-sight or utility lines. 070.
Violations & Fines
Cutting down, removing, or otherwise destroying a protected tree species without an approved tree removal permit violates Section 16.42.060 and is enforceable under Municipal Code Section 1.32.010: an infraction fine up to $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each additional violation, or the city may instead prosecute a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and six months in county jail), with each protected tree removed potentially treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size does a native oak have to be to count as a protected tree in Murrieta?
Are all trees in Murrieta protected, or only certain species?
Can I remove a protected tree species on my Murrieta property without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murrieta
California rules heatmap·Compare Murrieta to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle protected tree species.