Santa Rosa, CA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- City Code §§ 17-24.020, 17-24.030
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Community Development
- Smallest protected size
- 6-inch diameter, valley/blue oak
- Largest threshold
- 24-inch diameter, redwood, bay, fir
- Root zone buffer
- Drip line plus 10 feet, fenced
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor plus 2-year permit ban
Summary
Santa Rosa's tree code designates protected "heritage trees" two ways: a Planning Commission resolution for historic or cultural value, or automatic status for eleven native species (oaks, redwood, bay, madrone, buckeye, Douglas fir, alders, big-leaf maple) once the trunk reaches a listed diameter. Altering or removing one without a Section 17-24.030 permit is a misdemeanor.
"Heritage tree" means any of the following: (1) A tree or grove of trees so designated by a resolution of the Planning Commission, upon nomination by the Director of Community Development or the Planning Commission and after the holding of a noticed public hearing, having a specific historical or cultural association or value due to its age, species, character, location, height and/or the circumstances of its planting or origin. (2) Any of the following trees, native to the County, whether located on private or public property, which has a diameter or a circumference equal to or greater than that listed below: ... 1. Oak Family (a) Quercus lobata—valley oak 6″ 19″ (b) Q. agrifolia—live oak 18″ 57″
Full Breakdown
020 sets up two paths to heritage-tree status. The first is a Planning Commission resolution, adopted after a noticed public hearing on nomination by the Commission or the Director of Community Development, for a tree or grove with a specific historical or cultural association tied to its age, species, character, location, height, or the circumstances of its planting. The second protects native trees automatically once they reach a listed trunk size: valley oak and blue oak at 6 inches in diameter (19 inches in circumference); live oak, black oak, Oregon oak, canyon oak, and interior live oak at 18 inches (57 inches); madrone at 12 inches (38 inches); buckeye at 6 inches (19 inches); and redwood, California bay, Douglas fir, red alder, white alder, and big-leaf maple at 24 inches (75 inches), except the alders, which qualify at 18 inches.
14. 030 permit from the Director of Community Development is unlawful. Development projects must fence off the tree's protected perimeter, generally the drip line plus a 10-foot buffer, before any grading, excavation, or construction begins, and the fence must stay up for the life of the project, with no storage, burning, or open-flame equipment allowed inside it. A heritage tree removed or damaged as part of an approved project triggers the chapter's replacement schedule: four replacement trees of the same genus and species, each a minimum 15-gallon container size, for every six inches of trunk diameter that was not approved for removal.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of Chapter 17-24, including removing a heritage tree without a Section 17-24.030 permit, is a misdemeanor under Section 17-24.100, enforced under Chapter 1-28's citywide penalty schedule. The City Attorney may also seek a civil injunction under Section 17-24.120, and an owner found responsible loses eligibility for any City development or building permit on that property for two years under Section 17-24.140.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes an oak tree "heritage" in Santa Rosa?
Can the City designate a tree as heritage even if it's a small species?
What happens if I remove a heritage tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle protected tree species.