Article I — Intent and Purpose

The City Council finds and declares that trees contribute greatly to the health, safety and general welfare of all of the City's citizens and that the preservation and proper maintenance of trees is a matter of citywide concern. The City Council further finds and determines that it is necessary to enact regulations prohibiting unnecessary damage, removal, or destruction of trees.

The City Council recognizes and finds that trees provide great aesthetic benefits, offer windbreaks, provide summer shade, noise abatement, and privacy screening, erosion control, act as filters against airborne pollutants, release oxygen, are wildlife habitats, and prevent landslides through their root systems. All trees perform these functions for the property on which they are growing. Trees of significant size and maturity perform these functions for all persons living in their vicinity. Trees are key elements in a living system the boundaries of which do not conform to the arbitrary property lines of individual lots and parcels and upon which the continued health and welfare of this community depends. In addition, trees in the community and in a neighborhood provide a sense of identity and tradition and enhance property values.

The City Council further finds and declares that careless treatment and arbitrary removal of trees detracts from scenic beauty, causes erosion, increases risks of landslides, reduces property values, increases construction costs and drainage costs, and thereby further reduces the attractiveness of an area.

A purpose of the City Council in enacting the following regulations is to protect certain trees that are an essential part of the City's natural heritage, referred to in this chapter as heritage trees, wherever they may be growing in the City, while, at the same time, recognizing an individual property owner's right to utilize his or her land in a way that is otherwise allowed by law. (Ord. 2858 § 1, 1990)

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City of Santa Rosa, CA § 17-24.020

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth in this section.

"Accepted arboricultural standards" means those pruning standards approved in the publication "Pruning Standards" published by the International Society of Arboriculture, as the same now exists and may be revised from time to time.

"Accepted arboricultural practices" means practices set forth as acceptable or better in current generally accepted textbooks on arboriculture and tree care and in current professional journals on arboriculture or university level publications on tree care.

"Alter" means to take an action that could foreseeably diminish the health or vigor of a tree. "Alter" includes, but is not limited to, excessive or improper pruning of a tree, grade changes around or near a tree, excessive irrigation of a tree, and trenching in the root zone of a tree. "Alter" does not include: periodic trimming, shaping, thinning or pruning of a tree to preserve or protect its health, growth or appearance, in accordance with accepted arboricultural standards and practices; provided, however, that any, including root pruning of a heritage tree shall be done only by a certified tree worker, certified arborist, or with a certified arborist in attendance and supervising the entire process.

"Certified arborist" means a person who has been tested by and is currently certified as an "arborist" by the International Society of Arboriculture or a person who, as determined by the director, is equally qualified in the field of arboriculture.

"Certified tree worker" means a person who has been tested by and is currently certified as "tree worker" by the International Society of Arboriculture or a person who, as determined by the Director, is equally qualified in the field of arboriculture.

"Circumference" means the circumference of a tree measured around the tree's outside bark four and one-half feet above the average natural ground level immediately surrounding the trunk of the tree.

"Developed property in a R-1, R-1-6, R-1-7.5, R-1-9, PRD, or a R-1-PD zoning district" means a lot within one of these zones which is improved with a single-family dwelling and the lot, due to its size, is incapable of being further subdivided under the zoning regulations which are applicable to it. "Developed property in a R-1, R-1-6, R-1-7.5, R-1-9, PRD, or a R-1-PD zoning district" also means a lot within one of these zones which is improved with a single-family dwelling and which, due to its size, is technically capable of being further subdivided under the zoning regulations applicable to it, but which, due to the location of the dwelling on the lot, the size and condition of the dwelling, and the comparable size of the other developed lots within the neighborhood or other circumstances, such as the topography or shape of the lot, is unlikely, as determined by the director in writing, to be approved for further subdivision.

her subdivided under the zoning regulations applicable to it, but which, due to the location of the dwelling on the lot, the size and condition of the dwelling, and the comparable size of the other developed lots within the neighborhood or other circumstances, such as the topography or shape of the lot, is unlikely, as determined by the director in writing, to be approved for further subdivision.

"Director" means the director of the City's Department of Community Development or a person or persons within that Department designated by the Director to perform any of the discretionary duties or responsibilities of the Director and are set forth in this chapter.

"Director of recreation and parks" means the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department of the City or a person or persons within that department designated by the department's director

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City of Santa Rosa, CA § 17-24.020

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

"Diameter." In each instance where the diameter of a tree is listed in this chapter, the listed diameter is a tree's diameter measured four and one-half feet above the average natural ground level immediately surrounding the trunk of the tree and has been determined by dividing the tree's listed circumference, as "circumference" is defined in this chapter, by the number 3.14. In any instance where the diameter of a tree is needed to interpret or implement any provision of this chapter, it shall be determined by dividing the tree's actual "circumference," as defined in this chapter, by the number 3.14.

"Drip line" means an area of the ground delineated by the vertical projection of the outside periphery of the crown area of a tree down to the ground surface.

"Heritage tree" means any of the following:

• (1) A tree or grove of trees so designated by a resolution of the Planning Commission, upon nomination by the Director of Community Development or the Planning Commission and after the holding of a noticed public hearing, having a specific historical or cultural association or value due to its age, species, character, location, height and/or the circumstances of its planting or origin.

• (2) Any of the following trees, native to the County, whether located on private or public property, which has a diameter or a circumference equal to or greater than that listed below:

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Species/Common Name Diameter Circumference
1. Oak Family
(a) Quercus lobata—valley oak 6″ 19″
(b) Q. agrifolia—live oak 18 57
(c) Q. kelloggii—black oak 18 57
(d) Q. garryana—Oregon or white oak 18 57
(e) Q. chrysolepis—canyon oak 18 57
(f) Q. douglasii—blue oak 6 19
(g) Q. wislizenii—interior live oak 18 57
2. Sequoia sempervirens—redwood 24 75
3. Umbelluloria californica—bay 24 75
4. Arbutus menziesii—madrone 12 38
5. Aesculus californica—buckeye 6 19
6. Pseudotsugas menzesii—douglas fir 24 75
7. Alnus oregona—red alder 18 57
8. Alnus rhombifolia—white alder 18 57
9. Acer macrophyllum—big leaf maple 24 75
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"Protected tree" means any tree, including a heritage tree, designated to be preserved on an

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City of Santa Rosa, CA § 17-24.020

SANTA ROSA CODE

§ 17-24.020

approved development plan or as a condition of approval of a tentative map, a tentative parcel map, or other development approval issued by the City.

• (1) When property is situated within the R-1, R-1-6, R-1-7.5, R-1-9, PRD, or R-1-PD zoning districts, a tree designated as a "protected tree" in connection with the approval of the property's development shall lose that designation when the property has been improved or developed as described in subsection G of Section 17-24.020 and the dwelling on the property has been occupied as a residence.

• (2) For all other properties, any tree situated thereon which has been designated as a "protected tree" shall retain that designation until the tree reaches a stage of growth to come within the definition of tree as set forth in subsection P of Section 17-24.020.

"Root zone" means the area of ground around the trunk of a tree which includes the drip line and an additional 10 foot wide circular strip of ground around the outside of the drip line.

"Street tree" means any tree having a single trunk circumference greater than six and one-quarter inches or a diameter greater than two inches, a height of more than six feet, and one half or more of its trunk is within a public right-of-way or within five feet of the paved portion of a City street or a public sidewalk.

"Tree" means any woody plant having a single trunk circumference of twelve and one-half inches or more, or a diameter of four inches or more or a combination of multiple trunks having a total circumference of 25¼ inches or more, or a total diameter of eight inches or more.

"Person" means any individual, or group of individuals, any partnership or corporation, or any unincorporated association. "Person" includes the City.

"Remove" means the cutting down of a tree or the relocation of a tree in a manner not in accordance with accepted arboricultural practices.

"Relocate" means to relocate a tree from the place where it is growing and replanting it in another location in accordance with accepted arboricultural practices and with the intent and a reasonable expectation that it will survive and grow in the new location. (Ord. 2858 § 1, 1990)

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City of Santa Rosa, CA § 17-24.030

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION