Petaluma, CA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)

5 feet above grade. 040 sets a four-inch DBH threshold for eight categories of native oak: Black Oak, Valley Oak, Blue Oak, Interior Live Oak, Coast Live Oak, Oracle Oak, Oregon Oak, and any other native California oak. Larger non-oak natives carry higher thresholds: California Buckeye at six inches, California Bay at twelve inches, and California or Coast Redwood at eighteen inches. Beyond diameter-based species, the ordinance also protects heritage trees designated by City Council resolution under Title 8 of the Petaluma Municipal Code, significant groves or stands of trees, trees in riparian corridors, any tree required to be planted or preserved as mitigation or a permit condition, and every tree standing in a public right-of-way regardless of size.

A multi-trunk tree qualifies if any single trunk meets its species' diameter threshold, and the City may protect smaller trees case by case during development review. 020 applies this protected-tree list to every zoning district in the city. 030 exclude routine removal unrelated to a discretionary permit, emergency hazard removal, traffic sight-line clearing ordered by the Traffic Engineer or Public Works Director, and utility-line clearance. 100, enforceable through civil, criminal or administrative proceedings, with penalties tied to the tree's appraised replacement value.