San Bernardino County, CA Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

Development Code Chapter 88.01 (Plant Protection and Management), Section 88.01.050, governs Tree or Plant Removal Permits in unincorporated San Bernardino County. A permit is required to remove any regulated tree or plant, defined in Section 88.01.040 by reference to regulated desert native plants (Section 88.01.060), regulated Mountain/Valley trees (Section 88.01.070, native trees with a six-inch-or-greater stem diameter), and regulated riparian plants (Section 88.01.080, vegetation within 200 feet of a stream bank). The Director may approve removals either in conjunction with a land use or development permit, or as a stand-alone request; the Fire Chief may approve removals to mitigate fire hazards independent of any development permit. The review authority may require certification from an arborist, registered professional forester, or Desert Native Plant Expert, plus a preconstruction inspection and an approved plot plan showing exactly which trees may be removed. In the Mountain region, additional findings require keeping a minimum percentage of the parcel in natural vegetation. In the Desert region, additional findings apply to Joshua trees, including transplanting or stockpiling where possible and demonstrating no reasonable alternative exists before removing specimen-size Joshua trees (defined as a circumference of 50 inches or more measured 4.5 feet above grade, a height of 15 feet or more, a bark-like trunk, or a cluster of ten or more trees). Applications are submitted through the County's EZ Online Permitting portal. Numerous exemptions in Section 88.01.030 cover small developed lots, trees near permitted structures, emergency hazards, and limited fuel-wood cutting.