In the City of Rocklin, permits are not required to
prune any tree on your property, to remove any trees other
than oaks, or to remove any oak tree that is less than six inches
in diameter measured at 4.5 feet above the root crown.
A permit is required prior to the removal of any oak trees
that are six inches or larger in diameter. The City does not
charge a fee to issue oak tree removal permits. However, in some
cases, mitigation for the removal of trees may be required.
Mitigation Requirements
Property owners may mitigate for the removal of oak trees by
either paying into an established fund or by planting new oak
trees on the property. Mitigation requirements differ for
residential zone districts and commercial/industrial zone
districts. Exactly when and what type of mitigation is required
is generally as follows:
- For undeveloped single-family lots, oak trees that are dead
or dying may be removed with no mitigation required; however, in
most cases, the health of the tree will have to be verified to
the City, in writing, by a certified arborist.
- Healthy oak trees may be removed but must be mitigated by the
planting of two 5-gallon native oak trees for each tree removed
or by paying an in lieu fee per tree into the City’s established
mitigation fund.
- Heritage trees, oaks that are 24 inches in diameter or larger
measured at 4.5 feet above the root crown, may also be removed
but must be mitigated by the planting of five 5-gallon native
oaks for each tree removed, or again by paying in lieu fees, per
tree, into the City’s established mitigation fund.
For oak tree removal on undeveloped multi-family, commercial, or
industrial property, contact the Planning Division.
Documents and Application
The Oak Tree Preservation Guidelines and Ordinance gives more
information on oak tree regulations. These guidelines
provide information on planting and building around existing oak
trees, as well as pruning and disease care.
