Chino has no citywide heritage/private-tree preservation ordinance comparable to neighboring Chino Hills CMC Ch. 16.90. On private property, owners can generally remove trees without a city permit. A permit is required only when the tree is in the public right-of-way (parkway/street tree) or when removal is tied to a discretionary project subject to a landscape/site plan reviewed under Chino Development Code Title 20 (Zoning).
The City of Chino's Public Works Services Division administers maintenance and removal of trees in the public right-of-way (per the City Trees program at cityofchino.org/244/City-Trees). Chino's municipal code does NOT contain a private-property tree-preservation chapter — unlike Chino Hills Municipal Code Chapter 16.90 (which does not apply inside Chino city limits). For trees on a recorded subdivision landscape plan or within a Lighting & Landscape Maintenance District, removal requires approval from Public Works (909-334-3266). Removal of trees that were planted as a condition of a Conditional Use Permit, Site Plan, or Tentative Tract Map approval requires Community Development sign-off because those trees are an enforceable condition of approval under Chino Code Title 20 (Zoning). State-level Oak Woodlands Conservation Act (Fish & Game Code §§1360-1372) and CEQA tree-impact analysis apply to larger development projects regardless of any local permit. Park trees and trees in Chino's Lighting & Landscape Maintenance Districts (College Park HOA, The Preserve HOA) are maintained by the HOA, not the city.
Removing or damaging a city-owned street/parkway tree without authorization is treated as damage to public property and can be charged restitution plus penalties under Chino Code Title 1 (general penalty: up to $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail for misdemeanors). Unauthorized removal of a tree that was a condition of a development approval triggers code enforcement and may require replacement at the developer/owner's cost. Civil tree disputes between neighbors are NOT enforced by the city.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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