Visalia Municipal Code Art. 3 Pruning Standards and Requirements

A. Except in cases of emergencies as described in Section 12.24.050, no public agency shall prune or cause to be pruned any oak tree with a trunk diameter of ten (10) inches or greater at a point 4.5 feet above the root crown (also referred to as "10 inches Diameter Breast Height (D.B.H.)") within the city without first submitting a completed oak tree intent to prune notice with the city manager, as provided herein.

B. The notice shall be delivered to the city manager prior to the start of the work to be performed.

• C. The notice shall be in a form as provided by the city manager and shall include the following information:

• 1. The name, address and telephone number of the property owner.
• 2. The name, address and telephone number of the person(s) intending to prune the tree.
• 3. The date(s) of the pruning.

4. A description of the tree(s) to be pruned including the approximate size and location of the tree with sufficient specificity to enable the city manager to precisely locate and identify the subject tree(s).

5. If the work is to be performed in any public right-of-way, proof of insurance coverage for general liability, property damage, and workers' compensation in case of injury or damage to person or property.

6. Proof of the possession of a valid city business license.

D. A copy of the notice must be in the possession of the person pruning the oak tree at all times during the course of the work being performed.

(Ord. 2025-06 § 2 (part), 2025: Ord. 2021-03 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2007-02 § 2 (part), 2007; Ord. 9907 § 2 (part), 1999)

That certain document known and designated as ANSI A300 Pruning Standards and the International Society of Arboriculture Best Management Practices for Tree Pruning, as amended from time to time, is adopted by the council of the city as the standards for pruning trees located within the city to all intents and purposes and to the same effect as if each and every section, paragraph, sub-paragraph, word, phase, clause or illustration contained therein were fully set forth herein except for the deletion of any provisions as provided for in the chapter. A copy of such standards shall be on file with the city clerk and shall be available for purchase in the office of the city clerk. (Ord. 2007-02 § 2 (part), 2007; Ord. 9907 § 2 (part), 1999)

Reference is made to three copies of said standards filed in the office of the city clerk of the city which are now so filed for full particulars of said pruning standards. (Ord. 9907 § 2 (part), 1999)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the director in his or her capacity as enforcement officer. In the enforcement of this chapter such enforcement officer and his or her deputies may enter upon private or public property to examine any oak tree, and may issue citations for any violations of this chapter. (Ord. 9907 § 2 (part), 1999)

A. If the city manager determines that a property owner cannot properly prune or remove his or her oak tree without the assistance of a professional tree trimmer, and that said property owner cannot afford to hire a professional tree trimmer because he or she does not have the financial resources to pay for such services, the city manager may provide financial assistance to said property owner for the purpose of pruning or removal of the tree or trees, if all the following conditions are met and funds are available:

1. The property owner uses the property where the tree(s) is located as his or her principal place of residence;

2. The aggregate gross income of all persons eighteen (18) years of age or older residing on the property does not exceed the minimum amount as may be set from time to time, by resolution of the city council, pursuant to this subdivision; and

3. The city manager determines that it is necessary to prune or remove the tree to remove hazardous conditions, remove disease, rot, pests, other harmful conditions, or promote healthy growth of the tree(s).

B. Such financial assistance may include, but not be limited to, low interest loans, work done by the city with the cost borne in part or in whole by the property owner, work done by the city with the cost borne by the city to be repaid by the property owner upon such terms as the city and property owner shall agree, or any combination thereof.

(Ord. 2025-06 § 2 (part), 2025: Ord. 2021-03 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2007-02 § 2 (part), 2007; Ord. 9907 § 2 (part), 1999)

For purposes of providing such financial assistance as described in Section 12.24.100, and for accomplishing the oak tree mitigation goals as described in the Oak Tree Mitigation Policy developed pursuant to Section 12.24.037, it is established the "oak maintenance fund" which shall be funded either in part or in whole by those portions of fines which may be assessed by the courts, or through the administrative penalty process, known as "civil penalty assessments" for violations of this chapter, and by mitigation fee payments ordered pursuant to the Oak Tree Mitigation Policy established pursuant to Section 12.24.037. The Oak Tree Maintenance Fund shall be managed as described in the Oak Tree Mitigation Policy. (Ord. 2007-02 § 2 (part), 2007; Ord. 9907 §2 (part), 1999)