Thousand Oaks Municipal Code Ch. 28 Tree Pruning

This chapter provides standards for pruning of trees planted pursuant to a City approved landscape plan, in order to protect the health and aesthetic value of such trees. Trees that are well maintained have better structure minimizing the potential for failure, and also enhance the aesthetic character of the property and the City.

(§ 2, Ord. 1529-NS, eff. December 18, 2009)

The following words and phrases, as used in this Chapter shall have the following meanings:

(a) "Cambium" means the dividing layer of cells that forms sapwood (xylem) to the inside and inner bark (phloem) to the outside.

(b) "Climbing spurs" shall mean sharp, pointed devices affixed to a climber's boot used to assist in climbing trees (also known as gaffs, hooks, spurs, spikes, or climbers).

(c) "Crown" shall mean the leaves and branches of a tree measured from the lowest branch on the trunk to the top of the tree.

(d) "Lion's tailing" shall mean the removal of an excessive number of inner, lateral branches from parent branches.

(e) “Throwline" shall mean a small, lightweight line with a weighted end used to position a climber's rope in a tree.

(f) "Topping" shall mean the reduction of a tree's size using heading cuts that shorten limbs or branches back to a predetermined crown limit.

(§ 2, Ord. 1529-NS, eff. December 18, 2009)

1 Excerpted from ANSI A300 (Part 1) - 2008 Pruning, Copyright Tree Care Industry Association, Inc. Visit www.tcia.org for more information.

This chapter shall apply only to trees planted pursuant to a City-approved landscape plan. The provisions of this chapter do not exempt any person or entity from the requirements to obtain a permit for the removal, pruning, or encroachment of any protected oak or landmark tree subject to Article 42 or 43 of Chapter 4 of Title 9.

(§ 2, Ord. 1529-NS, eff. December 18, 2009, as amended by Part 13, Ord. 1610-NS, eff. January 15, 2016)

(a) It shall be unlawful to prune greater than twenty-five (25%) percent of the foliage or crown of a tree subject to this chapter as determined by the City's Arborist, during a calendar year.

(b) It shall be unlawful to prune a tree that results in topping or lion's tailing.

(c) It shall be unlawful to use climbing spurs except when limbs are more than a throwline distance apart and there is no other means of climbing the tree, or when the bark is thick enough to prevent damage to the cambium. The use of climbing spurs on palm trees is permitted.

(d) Exceptions to these regulations may be granted by the Community Development Department for good cause and where the requested pruning does not adversely affect the aesthetics or health of the tree(s).

(§ 2, Ord. 1529-NS, eff. December 18, 2009)

(a) Any person or entity that violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in Section 1-2.03 of this Municipal Code.

(b) It has been determined that trees subject to this chapter are a valuable asset to the citizens of Thousand Oaks and as a result of the loss or damage to any of these trees, the public should be recompensed. In addition to any penalties provided by subsection (a), any person or entity who damages a tree planted subject to this chapter by pruning methods prohibited by this chapter is responsible for monetary restitution to the City equal to the estimated value of damage to the tree(s), and may also be required to replace a tree damaged if it is no longer viable or could potentially become a hazard, as determined by the City's Arborist. Damage valuation shall be determined by the City's Arborist. Tree damage appraisals shall be conducted by the City's Arborist utilizing the Guide for Plant Appraisal, 9th Edition (Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers) or latest edition.

(§ 2, Ord. 1529-NS, eff. December 18, 2009)

(a) A pruning permit to prune greater than twenty-five (25%) percent of a tree’s foliage or canopy within an annual growing season may be issued after review by the Community Development Director or designee. All applications must include justification by a certified arborist or other professional as approved by the City, for the reason more than twenty-five (25%) percent of the tree’s foliage or canopy must be pruned. The justification for the pruning shall be evaluated by the City's Arborist.

(b) The Community Development Department is hereby authorized to collect an application processing fee, where applicable, and appeal fee, as set by Council resolution, to offset the cost of processing.

(§ 2, Ord. 1529-NS, eff. December 18, 2009)