Vacaville, CA Tree Protection: Tree Replacement Requirements (2026)

Tree-replacement mitigation in Vacaville is delivered through Tree Removal Permit conditions rather than a single fixed ratio in code. VMC 14.09.250.060 authorizes the Director of Community Development to attach reasonable conditions, including replacement trees, when issuing a permit. In practice, replacement is calibrated to tree size, species, and the project context: small ornamental trees just over the six-inch DBH threshold may require a 1:1 replacement with a 15-gallon or 24-inch box specimen; larger native oaks and Resource Protection-area trees can require 2:1 or 3:1 replacement at larger box sizes, or appraised-value cash mitigation paid into a tree fund where on-site planting is infeasible. Replacement species are typically drawn from a Vacaville-approved palette emphasizing native and drought-tolerant species such as coast live oak, valley oak, western redbud, and California sycamore where appropriate to the site and hydrology. Replanting must occur within a specified period (often one planting season) and is subject to a follow-up inspection. Trees removed without a permit are typically subject to higher replacement ratios as a penalty multiplier. Street-tree replacement in the public right-of-way is coordinated with Vacaville Public Works.