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Tree removal in Santa Barbara County

Inland rural lots under 50 acres: non-agricultural removal of over 2 protected oaks per 30-year period needs a permit; 12 above 899 acres.

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Key points

  • Oak trees: Inland rural lots under 50 acres: non-agricultural removal of over 2 protected oaks per 30-year period needs a permit; 12 above 899 acres.

Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Barbara County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Barbara County's code says

Santa Barbara County code What Santa Barbara County's code adds
Exemptions
  • Up to 3 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Inland rural areas; valley or blue oaks at least 4 inches DBH; non-agricultural removal on 50 to under 100 acres per 30-year period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 50—<100 | 3 |
  • Up to 4 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Non-agricultural removal on a lot of 100 to under 200 acres; all removals in the 30-year tracking period count together.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 100—<200 | 4 |
  • Up to 5 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Inland rural areas; valley or blue oaks at least 4 inches DBH; non-agricultural removal on 200 to under 300 acres per 30-year period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 200—<300 | 5 |
  • Up to 6 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Inland rural areas; valley or blue oaks at least 4 inches DBH; non-agricultural removal on 300 to under 400 acres per 30-year period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 300—<400 | 6 |
  • Up to 7 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Non-agricultural removal on a lot of 400 to under 500 acres; all removals in the 30-year tracking period count together.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 400—<500 | 7 |
  • Up to 8 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Non-agricultural removal on a lot of 500 to under 600 acres; all removals in the 30-year tracking period count together.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 500—<600 | 8 |
  • Up to 9 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Inland rural areas; valley or blue oaks at least 4 inches DBH; non-agricultural removal on 600 to under 700 acres per 30-year period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 600—<700 | 9 |
  • Up to 10 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Non-agricultural removal on a lot of 700 to under 800 acres; all removals in the 30-year tracking period count together.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 700—<800 | 10 |
  • Up to 11 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Inland rural areas; valley or blue oaks at least 4 inches DBH; non-agricultural removal on 800 to 899 acres per 30-year period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | 800—899 | 11 |
  • Up to 12 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Inland rural areas; valley or blue oaks at least 4 inches DBH; non-agricultural removal on more than 899 acres per 30-year period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    | Greater than 899 | 12 |
  • Up to 2 protected deciduous oaks may be removed without a permit if county grading rules are followed.
    Applies: Inland rural areas; valley or blue oaks at least 4 inches DBH; non-agricultural removal on a lot under 50 acres per 30-year period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    Within the thirty-year removal tracking period, the removal of protected deciduous oak trees for non-agricultural purposes from a lot, within the limits set forth in the table below, shall be exempt from the permit requirements of section 35-909.2, provided that the landowner complies with all applicable provisions of the county grading ordinance prior to the oak tree removal. | Lot acreage | Maximum allowable number of protected deciduous oak trees removed for non-agricultural purposes exempt from permit requirements of Sec. 35-909.2 | | --- | --- | | <50 | 2 | | 50—<100 | 3 | | 100—<200 | 4 | | 200—<300 | 5 | | 300—<400 | 6 | | 400—<500 | 7 | | 500—<600 | 8 | | 600—<700 | 9 | | 700—<800 | 10 | | 800—899 | 11 | | Greater than 899 | 12 |
Permit to remove
  • No permit is needed.
    Applies: Non-agricultural removal within the acreage table limits during the 30-year tracking period, if county grading rules are followed.
    § 35-909 · code text
    shall be exempt from the permit requirements of section 35-909.2
  • Yes, an oak tree removal permit is required.
    Applies: Non-agricultural removal beyond the table limit during a removal tracking period.
    § 35-909 · code text
    Within a removal tracking period, the removal of protected deciduous oak trees for non-agricultural purposes (as defined in section 35-906) from a lot in excess of the limits set forth in section 35-909.1 shall require approval of an oak tree removal permit.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Santa Barbara County?

Inland rural lots under 50 acres: non-agricultural removal of over 2 protected oaks per 30-year period needs a permit; 12 above 899 acres.

General information, not legal advice.

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