Palmdale, CA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected species
- Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) and California juniper
- Governing law
- PMC Ch. 14.04, Ord. 952 (1992), Ord. 1556 (2020)
- Prohibited acts
- Cutting, mutilating, overwatering, excavating protected vegetation
- Who may do removal work
- Only a licensed desert native plant specialist
- Penalty
- Mandatory replacement within six months of adjudication
- Nonpayment consequence
- City replaces plants and liens the property
Summary
Palmdale's native desert vegetation ordinance designates Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) and California junipers, plus other state- or federally listed rare desert plants under the California Desert Native Plants Act, as protected species citywide. Chapter 14.04 PMC makes it unlawful to damage, cut, or remove any of them, public or private property alike, without a City permit.
"Desert vegetation" shall mean California juniper as defined by this chapter, and other living plants identified pursuant to the California Desert Native Plants Act (Food and Agricultural Code Section 80001, et seq.) as protected or designated on any state or federal rare and endangered species list. ... "Joshua tree" means a living tree of botanical name of Yucca brevifolia, including Y. brevifolia var. Herbertii, and all other varieties and forms thereof. "California juniper" means a living tree of the botanical name of Juniperus californica. ... Except as provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to damage any desert vegetation as defined in this code.
Full Breakdown
) or a state or federal rare and endangered species list. 030 defines "damage" broadly to include cutting, mutilating, harvesting, overwatering, and excavating protected desert vegetation, and defines "growing season" as March 1 through August 31, the window that governs relocation timing. 090 makes it unlawful for any person to damage protected desert vegetation except as this chapter allows, and separately unlawful to falsify any document used to obtain removal permission. Only a "desert native plant specialist," defined as a certified arborist or a person with a related science degree plus two years of native-desert-vegetation experience (or five years without the degree), may perform authorized removals, trimming, or relocations.
100: the specialist sets the number, size, species and location of replacement plants, and the violator must revegetate the disturbed area within six months of adjudication. If the violator fails to replant, the City may contract the replacement work itself and place the cost as a lien on the violator's real property.
Violations & Fines
Damaging, cutting, mutilating, overwatering, or excavating a Joshua tree, California juniper, or other listed desert plant without an approved removal permit violates PMC Section 14.04.090 and draws the general penalties of Chapter 1.12 PMC. Under Section 14.04.100, the violator must also replace the destroyed vegetation, at their own expense, in quantities sufficient to revegetate the disturbed area within six months of adjudication; if they don't, the City fronts the replacement cost and liens the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plants does Palmdale's desert vegetation ordinance protect?
Can I trim or remove a protected desert plant myself?
What happens if I damage a protected tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palmdale
California rules heatmap·Compare Palmdale to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle protected tree species.