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Division 1 — Generally›Chapter 33›Article 55 — GRADING AND EROSION CONTROL

§ 33-1069. Vegetation protection and replacement standards.

Escondido Zoning Code · 2026-05 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Escondido

  • (a) Protection.

    • (1) No person shall destroy or do any clearing of vegetation and mature trees, nor destroy, clear, trim, or cut protected trees, in violation of this chapter, including deliberately damaging a mature or protected tree so that the removal of the tree is necessary to maintain public safety.

    • (2) Every feasible effort shall be made to preserve sensitive biological habitat, sensitive biological species, mature trees, and protected trees in-place on the project site through consideration of alternative means of accomplishing the desired action or project, to the satisfaction of the director.

    • (3) All feasible measures to avoid damage to existing trees and vegetation to remain shall be taken by the owner or developer during clearing, grading, and construction. A report prepared by a professional and provided at the applicant's expense, which provides recommendations on methods to minimize damage to the tree(s), may be required upon determination of the director.

    • (4) Rigid protective barriers of a type acceptable to the director shall be placed around the dripline of all trees and vegetation designated to remain. The barricades or fencing are to remain in place until completion of all grading and construction.

    • (5) In conjunction with new construction or improvement projects, no activity, including grading and trenching, that disturbs the root system within the dripline of protected or required trees on all size lots, and also within the dripline of mature trees on lots two acres or larger, shall be permitted unless the proposed disturbance is determined appropriate by the director through the evaluation process established by section 33-1068.C.

    • (6) All future owners of parcels on which trees or habitat are required to be maintained as a condition of approval shall be responsible for continued maintenance of such vegetation. The director may require a deed restriction, or other appropriate document, which notifies future owners of this requirement and the condition(s) of approval.

  • (b) Replacement.

    • (1) Required landscaping which is removed shall be replaced with equivalent plant material consistent with the original requirement(s).

    • (2) Sensitive biological habitat and sensitive biological species which are removed shall be mitigated either on-site or off-site by the planting of the same habitat species at a minimum ratio of one to one (1:1). Higher replacement ratios, or different plant species, may be required by the director for conformance with other federal, state, or local codes and agreements in effect at the time of the review of the application.

    • (3) If replacement of sensitive biological species and/or habitat is not feasible on-or offsite, other equivalent mitigation measures may be considered by the director.

    • (4) If mature trees cannot be preserved on-site, they shall be replaced at a minimum one to one (1:1) ratio. The preferred replacement is a tree(s) of equal size and caliper.

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-1069

ESCONDIDO CODE

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▸ Contents — Escondido Zoning Code
Escondido Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 6
  2. Division 2 — Routing
  3. Division 2 — Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program
  4. ▸ Division 1 — Generally
    Overview
    1. § 11-53. Created and established.
    2. § 11-54. Purpose.
    3. § 11-55. Membership.
    4. § 11-56. Members in classified service and subject to civil se…
    5. § 11-57. Personnel to obey fire chief and rules and regulation…
    6. § 11-63. Appointment; tenure.
    7. § 11-64. Qualifications.
    8. § 11-65. Status of employment.
    9. § 11-66. General authority.
    10. § 11-67. To perform duties prescribed by city manager.
    11. § 11-68. To aid enforcement of ordinances, report violations.
    12. § 11-69. Duty to promulgate and enforce rules, regulations for…
    13. § 11-70. Authority, duty to inspect buildings, premises and or…
    14. § 11-71. Right of entry to make inspections.
    15. § 11-72. Duty to investigate fires, maintain records.
    16. § 11-73. Duty to preserve order at fires.
    17. § 11-74. Provide instruction for department in first aid, etc.
    18. § 11-75. Duty to call fire drills; purpose of drills.
    19. § 11-76. Responsible for conduct of and property of department.
    20. § 11-77. Duty to recommend disciplinary action.
    21. § 11-78. Duty to make reports; contents.
    22. § 11-79. To submit annual budget.
    23. Chapter 20
    24. Chapter 32
    25. ▸ Chapter 33
      Overview
      1. § 33-1313. Penalty provisions.
      2. Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS
      3. Article 2 — OPEN SPACE AND HAZARDOUS LANDS GENERALLY
      4. Article 3 — OPEN SPACE (OS) ZONE
      5. Article 4 — FLOOD PLAIN (FP) OVERLAY ZONE
      6. Article 5 — OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      7. Article 6 — RESIDENTIAL ZONES
      8. Article 9 — ANIMAL OVERLAY (AO) ZONE
      9. Article 11 — (RESERVED)
      10. Article 13 — (RESERVED)
      11. Article 16 — COMMERCIAL ZONES
      12. Article 18 — SPECIFIC PLAN (S-P) ZONE
      13. Article 19 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (P-D) ZONE
      14. Article 24 — (RESERVED)
      15. Article 25 — PARKING OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL Z…
      16. Article 26 — INDUSTRIAL ZONES
      17. Article 27 — EMERGENCY SHELTER OVERLAY
      18. Article 30 — HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL OVERLAY (H-C-O) ZONE
      19. Article 31 — SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (S-T-P) OVERLAY ZONE
      20. Article 32 — BED AND BREAKFAST FACILITIES
      21. Article 33 — RECYCLING FACILITIES
      22. Article 34 — COMMUNICATION ANTENNAS
      23. Article 35 — OUTDOOR LIGHTING
      24. Article 36 — CARGO CONTAINER RESTRICTIONS
      25. Article 37 — PUBLIC ART
      26. Article 38 — MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
      27. Article 39 — OFF-STREET PARKING
      28. Article 40 — HISTORICAL RESOURCES
      29. Article 41 — SENIOR HOUSING
      30. Article 42 — ADULT BUSINESSES
      31. Article 43 — ABANDONED SERVICE STATIONS
      32. Article 44 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
      33. Article 45 — MOBILEHOME PARKS
      34. Article 46 — TRAVEL TRAILER PARKS
      35. Article 47 — ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
      36. Article 48 — RELOCATION OF BUILDINGS
      37. Article 49 — AIR SPACE CONDOMINIUM AND COMMUNITY APARTMENT PRO…
      38. Article 52 — FREEWAY SIGN CONTROL
      39. ▸ Article 55 — GRADING AND EROSION CONTROL
        Overview
        1. § 33-1050. Purpose.
        2. § 33-1051. Scope.
        3. § 33-1052. Definitions.
        4. § 33-1053. Permits required—Exceptions.
        5. § 33-1055 - (b) Cemetery graves controlled by other regulations;
        6. § 33-1054. Hazards.
        7. § 33-1055. Grading permit requirements.
        8. § 33-1056. Grading fees.
        9. § 33-1057. Bonds.
        10. § 33-1058. Cuts.
        11. § 33-1059. Fills.
        12. § 33-1060. Setbacks.
        13. § 33-1061. Drainage.
        14. § 33-1062 necessary for stability.
        15. § 33-1062. Best management practice (BMP) implementation.
        16. § 33-1062 by a registered civil engineer and approved by the c…
        17. § 33-1063. Grading inspection.
        18. § 33-1064. Completion of work.
        19. § 33-1065. Violation—Penalty.
        20. § 33-1066. Design criteria.
        21. § 33-1066 Figure 2: CONTOUR GRADING
        22. § 33-1066 Figure 4: SLOPE SCREENING
        23. § 33-1069. Vegetation protection and replacement standards.
        24. § 33-1069 Protected trees shall be replaced at a minimum two t…
      40. Article 56 — MISCELLANEOUS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      41. Article 57 — MISCELLANEOUS USE RESTRICTIONS
      42. Article 58 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
  5. Division 1
  6. Division 2 — Variances and Administrative Adjustments
  7. Division 3 — Nonconforming Uses and Structures
  8. Division 4 — Amendments and Zone Changes
  9. Division 5 — Reasonable Accommodation
  10. Division 6 — Public Hearings, Notices, Fees and Appeals
  11. Division 7 — Enforcement and Penalties
  12. Division 8 — Plot Plans
  13. Division 9 — Zoning Administrator

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