Removing protected native trees in unincorporated Sonoma County requires a permit under the Tree Protection Ordinance (Code 26-88-010): a zoning permit for native species 6 inches DBH or larger, and a use permit for hardwoods 36 inches+ and redwoods 48 inches+. Valley oaks in a Valley Oak Habitat Combining Zone and Heritage/Landmark trees (Chapter 26D) get extra protection.
Sonoma County operates a layered tree-permit system for the unincorporated county. The base Tree Protection Ordinance (County Code Section 26-88-010(m)) protects about 31 native species - including all native oaks, willows, alders, cottonwoods, maples, ash, madrone, buckeye, walnuts, firs, redwoods, cypress, and pines - once they reach 6 inches diameter at breast height (DBH). A zoning permit is required to remove a protected native tree at or above that size; a more demanding discretionary use permit is required for hardwoods 36 inches DBH or larger and redwoods 48 inches DBH or larger (certain species like Western hemlock, Monterey/Macnab cypress, and pines have no use-permit threshold). Layered on top are two special protections: valley oaks within a designated Valley Oak Habitat (VOH) Combining Zone are governed by the Valley Oak Ordinance (County Code Section 26-67), which subjects most removals to a zoning permit and mandatory mitigation and is more protective than the general ordinance; and individually significant trees can be designated under the Heritage and Landmark Tree Ordinance (County Code Chapter 26D), with about 50 trees recognized to date. The County comprehensively updated these protections in 2024 (Board adoption April 16, 2024). Mitigation typically applies, with an in-lieu fee of $510 per arboreal value point and maximum fines reported up to $3,500 per tree under the update. Application forms include PJR-151/PJR-153 (zoning) and PJR-150/PJR-152 (use permit).
Removing a protected, valley-oak, or heritage/landmark tree without the required permit exposes the owner to enforcement under the Tree Protection, Valley Oak, or Heritage/Landmark ordinances - including mandatory mitigation, in-lieu fees ($510 per arboreal value point), replacement planting, and penalties up to a reported maximum of $3,500 per tree following the 2024 update.
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