Garden Grove regulates tree removal on public property through the Public Works Department. City-maintained street trees may not be removed, pruned, or damaged by residents without city authorization. Removal of trees on private property generally does not require a city permit unless the property is subject to a landscape plan condition of approval or specific zoning overlay.
Garden Grove's Municipal Code addresses tree protection primarily through its public property maintenance provisions. Street trees planted in the public right-of-way and parkways are city property maintained by the Public Works Department. Residents may not remove, prune, damage, or attach anything to city street trees without written authorization from Public Works. Requests for street tree removal or pruning should be directed to the Public Works Department at (714) 741-5375. The city may remove or replace street trees that are dead, diseased, or causing infrastructure damage such as sidewalk uplift. For private property, Garden Grove does not have a comprehensive private tree preservation ordinance requiring permits for tree removal on residential lots in most zoning districts. However, trees that were planted as a condition of a development approval, site plan, or conditional use permit may be protected and require city approval before removal. Properties within specific plan areas or planned development zones may have additional landscape requirements. Orange County does not impose countywide tree removal permit requirements. When trees are removed from private property, the property owner is responsible for ensuring no protected species (birds nesting per the Migratory Bird Treaty Act) are disturbed. Removal of trees near property lines should consider neighbor notification as a courtesy.
Damaging or removing a city street tree without authorization may result in fines and requirement to replace the tree at the property owner's expense. Replacement costs can exceed $1,000-$5,000 depending on tree size and species. Removing trees required by a development condition of approval may result in code enforcement action and mandatory replanting.
Garden Grove, CA
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