Susanville Municipal Code Art. IV Tree Permit Process

Any person may obtain a permit by making written application to the city and paying a fee necessary to cover the cost of processing the application as set by resolution of the city council. Where a permit application is required by this article, it shall include a site plan to show the following information at a scale sufficient to enable the determination of matters required under these regulations:

A. The shape and dimension of the lot or parcel, together with the existing and proposed location of structures and improvements, if any.

B. Locations of all existing registered or street trees, identified by common or botanical name. Registered or street trees proposed to remain, to be transplanted, or to be removed, shall be identified.

(Prior code § 17A.10)

There shall be no less than one street tree from the approved species list planted at each new residential unit. In the event the development is commercial, the landscaping requirement conditions established by the planning commission and/or planning department shall require incorporation of a sufficient number of healthy trees, each at least one and one-fourth inches in diameter at six inches above the ground and at least eight feet in height with the crown in good balance with the trunk. The trees must be in a healthy condition at the time of final inspection. It shall further be the policy of the city that any commercial or residential development or subdivision shall be required to preserve and protect existing trees on the property, and those required to remain shall be clearly designated as a condition of development. Further, removal of any tree greater than four inches or greater in diameter at diameter breast height (d.b.h. is four and one-half feet above the ground) in the area of the new development shall require a permit under the procedures of Section 12.36.100 and include the following additional information:

A. Locations and dimensions of all setbacks and easements required by the zoning ordinance of the city.

B. Statements as to grade changes proposed for the lot or parcel if such grade changes will affect the trees within the lot or parcel, whether street trees, registered trees, or otherwise, and how such grade changes will affect the trees.

C. Any proposed street tree, or registered tree replacement program.

D. All trees to be retained shall be so identified by some method, such as painting, flagging, etc., prior to field inspection. Where protective barriers are necessary to prevent damage to a tree that is not to be removed, such barriers shall be erected before work starts.

E. In the event there are no trees located on the site to be developed which are required to be protected under the provisions of this article, the applicant shall so state in his application for a "no tree" verification. If such statement is substantiated by an inspection of the site by the city, the applicant shall be relieved of the necessity to supply information and no fee shall be assessed.

F. Any and all such permits issued by the city shall be declared null and void if commencement of work so permitted is not started within a reasonable time, not to exceed six months. Permits not used within this period will require a new application. For purposes of this chapter, a permit shall be deemed used when the work authorized by the permit is completed.

(Prior code § 17A.11)

The tree removal application shall be field checked and a field inspection report made prior to issuance of a permit. The city manager may request a recommendation concerning the application from any or all appropriate city departments or the tree commission.

(Prior code § 17A.12)

When necessary, the city manager shall be available for preapplication inspection of the site involved.

(Prior code § 17A.13)

Upon receiving the field inspection report and any requested recommendation concerning the application for the permits designated herein, the city manager shall issue or deny a permit after application is filed for the removal or relocation of street trees or registered trees using the following criteria:

A. Criteria for Removal.

1. The tree is located in an area where a structure or improvements will be placed according to an approved plan, it unreasonably restricts the economic enjoyment of property, and the tree cannot be relocated on the site because of age, type or size of the tree; or

2. The tree is diseased, injured, in danger of falling too close to existing or proposed structures, interferes with existing utility service, creates unsafe vision clearance or conflicts with other ordinances or regulations;

3. Sufficient trees exist on the site to meet the intent of this chapter as determined by the city manager.

B. Basis for Denial.

1. The city manager, upon a determination that an application is to be denied, shall state the basis for such denial specifically and shall notify the applicant of the criteria upon which said denial is predicted.

(Prior code § 17A.14)

No tree permit shall be required for the cutting down, destruction, or removal of:

A. Any tree grown for commercial harvesting and sale on real property zoned to permit such commercial harvesting and sale as the primary use of the property.

B. Any tree grown as part of a commercial orchard;

C. Any tree determined by the city manager, to be in such a hazardous or dangerous condition as to require immediate removal in order to protect the public safety, health or welfare.

(Prior code § 17A.15)

As a condition of the granting of a permit, the applicant shall be required to relocate or replace each tree on a one-to-one ratio. This requirement may be varied by the city manager upon a showing that such requirements will create hardship in the use of the site. Each replacement shall have at least equal shade potential and other characteristics comparable to that of the trees removed and shall be a minimum of one and one-fourth inches in diameter six inches above the ground and at least eight feet in height with the crown in good balance with the trunk and shall be from the list of approved species kept on file by the city.

(Prior code § 17A.16)

Where a tree is proposed for removal from a utility easement, the applicant shall be required to relocate or replace each tree on a one-to-one ratio in accordance with the conditions for replacement set forth herein. The city manager shall designate the location of the replacement or relocation of trees removed from a utility easement and shall base that designation on a determination of the location which will best serve to less than adverse impact of the factors set forth herein.

(Prior code § 17A.17)

Any public utility corporation maintaining overhead wires may be given a permit by the city, valid from one year from date of issuance, to allow such public utility corporation to trim or brace any street or registered tree. Permission to trim or brace trees by the public utility corporation shall be granted where it can be shown that the trees or portion thereof will interfere with the safety of the overhead wires including, but not limited to the transmission of electrical current or telephone messages.

(Prior code § 17A.18)

Any tree that is found to be infected with Dutch Elm Disease (Ceratocystis ulmi) or other disease determined by the city to be hazardous to the health of other trees in the city, shall be destroyed to prevent transmission of the disease. The method of destruction of an infected tree shall be prescribed by the Lassen County agricultural commissioner and may include burning or burial at a site designated by the commissioner. Any appliances or tools, including axes, knives, saws, chainsaws, pruning tools, wood chopping equipment, wedges and other tools or appliances used on infected trees shall be disinfected in a manner prescribed by the commissioner before they are allowed to be moved from the infected area. Use of infected tree wood for fire wood shall be prohibited. Transportation of infected tree wood to a designated destruction area shall occur in closed conveyances or compartments only.

(Prior code § 17A.19)

Any street tree that is found to be dead shall require a permit for removal and shall be removed in accordance with the conditions described on the permit.

(Prior code § 17A.20)