Trinity County has no general tree-removal permit for private parcels. The closest county requirement is in the Scenic Conservation Overlay Zone (Code § 17.25.040), where removing larger trees or using machinery can require a use permit. Commercial logging instead needs a state Timber Harvest Plan under the Forest Practice Act.
Unlike many cities, Trinity County does not operate a broad heritage- or protected-tree permit program covering all private property—appropriate for a county that is overwhelmingly forest and Timberland Production zoning. Permit-type requirements arise in specific situations. In the Scenic Conservation Overlay Zone (Code Ch. 17.25), § 17.25.040 limits vegetation removal: removal of bushes and trees under twenty feet tall is allowed without a use permit if done without machinery other than chain saws and similar hand tools—so removal of taller trees, or use of heavy equipment, can require a planning-director use permit in scenic areas. Commercial timber harvesting is governed by the state, not the county: California's Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act (PRC §§ 4511 et seq.) and CAL FIRE / Board of Forestry rules require an approved Timber Harvest Plan, and the county's Vegetation Management Ordinance (Code § 8.68.110) requires abatement and removal projects to comply with that Act. Large-scale clearing tied to earthmoving may also require a grading use permit under the Mass Grading chapter (Code Ch. 15.24). Removal of dead, dying, diseased, or hazardous trees may be compelled—rather than restricted—under the Vegetation Management Ordinance (Ch. 8.68).
Removing trees on ordinary parcels generally carries no county penalty. In the Scenic Conservation Overlay Zone, removing larger trees or using machinery without a required use permit is a zoning violation enforced under Code Ch. 17.36. Unlawful commercial timber operations are enforced by CAL FIRE under the Forest Practice Act. Clearing that constitutes unpermitted mass grading is an infraction up to $500/day under Code § 15.24.110.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Trinity County has no ordinance banning backyard composting; home composting of yard and food scraps is allowed. California's SB 1383 organic-waste recycling...
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Trinity County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially regulating artificial turf. Synthetic lawns are allowed on residential property, subject only to gen...
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Trinity County does not mandate native-plant landscaping for ordinary homes. However, the county cannabis-cultivation rules (Code Ch. 17.43G) require biologi...
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Trinity County has no ordinance restricting rooftop rainwater harvesting. Capturing rainwater in barrels and cisterns for outdoor, non-potable use is allowed...
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Trinity County has no countywide lawn-watering day/time schedule. Outdoor water use is shaped by the county Water Quality Control Ordinance (Code Ch. 8.60), ...
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Trinity County's Vegetation Management Ordinance (Code Ch. 8.68, Ord. No. 1300) declares excessive dry grass, brush, dead trees and other flammable vegetatio...
See how Trinity County's tree removal permits rules stack up against other locations.
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