Tree removal in Oroville

When a tree is damaged and the city administrator, director of public works, director of community development, public safety personnel, code enforcement officer, or their designees has determined that its immediate removal is necessary to protect persons from imminent personal injury or to prevent imminent and substantial damage to property.

Removal of an interior live oak, unless meeting the criteria for classification as a heritage tree.

When removal is determined to be necessary by fire department personnel actively engaged in fighting a fire.

When removal is determined to be necessary to comply with fuel modification requirements or to meet defensible space requirements, as described in CAL FIRE Guidelines.

When removal is determined as necessary by the property owner's insurance provider, as detailed in an insurance report or other formal correspondence, to maintain homeowners' insurance coverage.

Routine trimming, pruning, or maintenance which does not cause damage or death of a tree.

Removal of a tree that is dead, dying, or in poor health as determined by a certified arborist.

The developed lot is not greater than 20,000 square feet in area and is zoned either RR-20, RR-10, RL, R-1, or R-2.

Fines may be as high as the cost to replace and maintain up to 3 times the number of trees required by this section.

The removal of any protected tree requires approval of a tree removal permit.

The city requires a tree removal permit in accordance with Section 17.48.070 to remove any oak tree that meets the applicability criteria above in subsection B (Applicability).

A heritage tree may only be removed when approved as appropriate by a certified arborist, and upon receiving a tree removal permit in accordance with subsection (C)(1).

Any tree on private property that has a trunk diameter of at least 24 inches at 54 inches above grade.

Single main trunk: 6 inches.

Multiple trunks (in aggregate): 10 inches.

Heritage Tree: 24 inches.

"Native oak tree" — means an oak tree that is native to Butte County's natural oak communities, including valley oak, black oak, blue oak, and canyon oak.

A protected tree does not include the following species: Ailanthus, Chinese Tallow, Freemont Cottonwood or Poplar, Privet, Box Elder, Eucalyptus, Silver Wattle, Black Acacia, English Hawthorn, Red Gum, Tasmanian Blue Gum, Edible Fig, English Holly, Cherry Plum, Black Locust, Peruvian Peppertree, Brazilian Peppertree, Palm, Western Catalpa, Chinese Elm or Winged Elm; or fruit and nut trees.

Each inch in dbh of oak removed shall be replaced by one inch of native oaks (1:1 ratio), using trees planted at a minimum size of 15 gallons.

Where physically feasible, a tree removed under a tree removal permit shall be replaced on the same property, in accordance with the standards in subsection F (Replacement Standards).

When replacing a tree on site is not feasible, an applicant granted a tree removal permit may pay an in-lieu fee as set by the city council.

When replacing a tree on site is not feasible, an applicant granted a tree removal permit may plant replacement trees off site if:

An applicant who has received a tree removal permit shall mitigate the removal by completing one or a combination of the following options, as well as paying a monitoring fee per tree as set by the city council.

A replacement tree that dies within 5 years shall be replaced on a one-to-one basis.