Ventura County, CA Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

The Resource Management Agency Planning Division issues tree permits for protected trees in the unincorporated areas under the Tree Protection Ordinance, codified at Non-Coastal Zoning Ordinance section 8107-25 (and Coastal Zoning Ordinance section 8178-7). A permit is required to remove a protected tree, to prune it beyond specified limits, or to trench, excavate, or otherwise encroach into its protected zone (five feet outside the canopy and at least 15 feet from the trunk). Protected trees in the non-coastal zone include all oaks and sycamores 9.5 inches or larger in circumference measured at least 4.5 feet above grade, any tree species 90 inches or larger in circumference, historically designated trees, and qualifying native trees in Scenic Resources Protection overlay zones. The County offers two permit tracks: a ministerial tree permit (Tree Doc M for non-coastal, Tree Doc CZ-M for coastal) for routine, lower-impact work meeting set standards, and a discretionary permit supported by a comprehensive arborist report (Tree Doc D-AR) for larger or more sensitive removals. The adopted Tree Protection Guidelines set approval standards, methods for valuing a tree, and required mitigation for removals; mitigation may include replacement plantings or contributions to the County's Tree Mitigation Grant Program, which funds replanting and habitat work. Applicants submit through Planning; for questions, the tree-protection planner and plan counter can be reached at (805) 654-2494 or (805) 654-2488.