San Diego County Municipal Code Art. 1 Trimming or Removal of Trees, Hedges and Shrubs

(a) No person shall trim, prune, cut, break, deface, destroy, burn or remove any tree, hedge, plant, shrub, or flower growing or to grow upon any County-owned public property within the unincorporated territory of the County unless authorized in writing to do so by the Director, or the Director, Department of Parks and Recreation, whichever is the appropriate County officer, or the Board.

(b) No person shall trim, prune, cut, break, deface, destroy, burn or remove any tree, hedge or shrub from a public or County highway within the unincorporated territory of the County unless authorized in writing to do so by the Director.

(Repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 2843 (N.S.), effective 7-8-65; amended by Ord. No. 3032 (N.S.), effective 1-19-67; amended by Ord. No. 6453 (N.S.), effective 11-11-82; amended by Ord. No. 10646 (N.S.), effective 2-14-20)

No person shall injure deface or remove any protective structure placed around any tree of plant growing upon any public or County highway or public property in the unincorporated territory of the County.

Any person desiring to trim, prune, or remove any tree, hedge or shrub from any public or County highway shall file an application with the Director.

(Amended by Ord. No. 6453 (N.S.), effective 11-11-82)

(a) The Director may issue a written permit authorizing the trimming, pruning or removal of any tree, hedge or shrub within a public or County highway upon such terms and conditions as is deemed appropriate by the Director to provide protection to persons and property or may deny such permit.

(b) Any person removing a live tree pursuant to a permit issued by the Director shall, within 30 days following removal of such live tree, plant another tree of a type and in a location specified in the permit. The requirement of replanting another tree may be waived by the Director where the requirement would impose an unreasonable hardship.

(Repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 2843 (N.S.), effective 7-8-65; amended by Ord. No. 3032 (N.S.), effective 1-19-67; amended by Ord. No. 6453 (N.S.), effective 11-11-82)

(a) If the Director deems that the trimming, pruning or removal of any tree, hedge or shrub within a County highway is necessary for the protection of the traveling public or public property, the Director shall subject to the availability of funds, personnel and equipment, cause such tree to be trimmed, pruned or removed to provide such protection.

(b) On application of any person to whom there has been issued a permit to trim, prune or remove a tree, hedge or shrub from a County highway, the Director may trim, prune or remove such tree, hedge or shrub described in such permit provided the cost thereof is paid by the permittee and provided there shall first be deposited with the Director a sum determined to be the estimated cost of such work. All such deposits shall be placed in a trust fund. Following completion of the work the Director shall determine actual cost of the work and transfer that portion of the deposit to the appropriate County fund and return the balance to the depositor. Should the original deposit be insufficient to cover the actual cost of the work the permittee shall be liable to the County for the unpaid balance and shall promptly pay such amount to the County upon demand of the Director.

(Amended by Ord. No. 6453 (N.S.), effective 11-11-82)