When protected tree removal is approved in unincorporated Orange County, the ordinance requires replacement planting at a 3:1 ratio for Specimen Trees and 5:1 ratio for Heritage Trees. Developers must plant more trees than removed or pay increased mitigation fees.
Orange County's Protected Tree Ordinance mandates replacement planting whenever a protected tree removal permit is granted. The replacement ratios are measured by aggregate trunk diameter: Specimen Trees require replacement at three times the size of the removed tree, while Heritage Trees require five times the size. Replacement trees must be species appropriate to the local ecosystem, typically native California species. On development projects, the county requires developers to preserve mature, ecologically significant trees on-site as a first priority. When on-site preservation is not feasible, the developer must replant more trees than removed on the project site. If on-site replanting cannot meet the full replacement ratio, the applicant must contribute mitigation fees to the county's urban canopy fund. The county-certified arborist oversees replacement planting plans and monitors establishment. Replacement trees must be maintained and irrigated until established, typically a minimum of three years.
Failure to complete required replacement planting triggers enforcement action. Mitigation fees are calculated based on species, size, and Heritage/Specimen status. Non-compliance may result in stop-work orders on associated development projects.
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See how Orange County's tree replacement requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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