Does Unincorporated Placer County Require a Tree Permit?
Often, yes. If your property is outside a city or town limit, the Placer County Code applies, and its tree rules sit in Article 19.50, titled Woodland Conservation. Placer County's own tree permit handout points to that article as the Tree Preservation Ordinance.The key word is where. The county's tree rules are not a blanket requirement on every parcel. Article 19.50 applies to native trees, landmark trees and riparian zone trees, and its main geographic reach is a short list of named areas, plus any project that needs a discretionary county approval. That list includes the Granite Bay community plan area, so a typical Granite Bay lot with a native oak is squarely inside it.If your address is in Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn or Colfax, or in the Town of Loomis, the county ordinance is not the one that governs. Those places have their own rules. Our Roseville and Auburn guides cover those two cities.The Tahoe-side area east of Sierra Summit has its own article (Article 12.20) and is not covered here.
Which Rules Apply Where? Placer County Communities at a Glance
Your mailing address is not a reliable guide, and most of these communities are not cities at all. What matters is whether the parcel is inside an incorporated city or town.
For unincorporated parcels, ask the Planning Services Division whether your lot falls in one of the named woodland conservation areas. The county keeps a tree preservation area map at its planning office for exactly that question. Even outside those areas, the riparian, commercial firewood and discretionary project provisions of Article 19.50 can still apply.
| Community | Governing jurisdiction | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Granite Bay | Unincorporated Placer County | County Article 19.50 applies. The Granite Bay community plan is one of the named woodland conservation areas. |
| Penryn | Unincorporated Placer County | County Article 19.50. A portion of the Horseshoe Bar/Penryn community plan area is named. Check the county map for your parcel. |
| North Auburn | Unincorporated Placer County | County Article 19.50. The Auburn/Bowman community plan area is named. Check the county map for your parcel. |
| Newcastle | Unincorporated Placer County | County rules govern, but confirm with the county whether your parcel sits in a named area. Discretionary-project, riparian and firewood provisions apply regardless. |
| Meadow Vista | Unincorporated Placer County | Same as Newcastle: county rules govern. Confirm the named-area question with Planning Services. |
| Sheridan | Unincorporated Placer County | Same as Newcastle: county rules govern. Confirm the named-area question with Planning Services. |
| Loomis | Town of Loomis (incorporated) | Town rules, not the county ordinance. Contact the Town of Loomis before cutting. |
| Rocklin | City of Rocklin | City rules. Contact the City of Rocklin. |
| Roseville | City of Roseville | City rules. See our Roseville tree removal permit guide. |
| Auburn (city limits) | City of Auburn | City rules. See our Auburn tree removal permit guide. |
| Lincoln | City of Lincoln | City rules. Contact the City of Lincoln. |
| Colfax | City of Colfax | City rules. Contact the City of Colfax. |
What Trees Does Placer County Protect?
Article 19.50 defines a protected tree in specific terms, and the definition is narrower than most owners assume.
DBH is measured 4.5 feet above ground on the high side of the tree.The protected zone is more than the trunk. The ordinance protects a circle around each protected tree, with a radius equal to the largest radius of the dripline plus one foot. Under the county's definition, "development activity" means any activity inside that circle that could affect the tree's health, including cutting, grading, irrigating and trenching. A new trench for a sprinkler line or a pad for a shed under an oak can need a permit even if no one touches the trunk.Riparian zones. The county defines a riparian zone as any area within 50 feet of the centerline of a seasonal creek or stream, within 100 feet of the centerline of a year-round creek, stream or river, and within 100 feet of the shoreline of a pond, lake or reservoir. Work in a riparian zone also triggers environmental review, and in some cases a California Department of Fish and Wildlife agreement, before a permit is approved. The ordinance states that this is not a ban on removal. It is a requirement for review first.Large removals. Outside developed single-family lots that cannot be subdivided, removing more than half of the native trees of 6 inches DBH or larger (5 inches for oaks) requires a tree permit under the countywide provisions. Skipping that permit can lead the county to deny or defer a development application on the property for up to 10 years.
How the county defines what is protected:
- Native to California. The ordinance defines a tree as a tall woody plant native to California.
- Size. A single main stem of at least 6 inches diameter at breast height (DBH), or a multi-trunk tree with an aggregate of at least 10 inches DBH. For oaks, a single main stem of 5 inches DBH or larger counts.
- Foothill pines are exempt from the article, and shrubs such as manzanita are not treated as trees regardless of size.
- Landmark trees. A tree or grove designated by resolution of the Board of Supervisors as historically or culturally valuable, an outstanding specimen, or of significant community benefit.
- Riparian zone trees. Within a riparian zone, trees of any size are subject to the article in the tree preservation areas and as part of any discretionary project.
What Is Exempt From a Placer County Tree Permit?
Article 19.50 lists specific exemptions. The ordinance describes itself as not a categorical ban on removal, with numerous exemptions. Each has conditions.
Landmark trees are different. A landmark tree is not subject to most of these exemptions. The one that still applies is the exemption for removal that fire department personnel determine is necessary while actively fighting a fire."Dying" needs a professional. The dying or unhealthy exemption depends on an arborist's or forester's identification. A tree that merely looks rough to you may not qualify. A tree with some dead limbs is not a dead tree under the county's definition.Ask before you rely on an exemption. The county's own permit handout notes that a Minor Tree Permit can be sought even for exempt removal, so the question of whether a permit is needed is settled before the saw starts.
Removal of a protected tree does not need a tree permit when it is:
- Damaged by a storm, flood, earthquake, fire or other natural disaster and determined to be an immediate danger to people or site improvements. The county asks to be notified as soon as possible of the condition and what was done.
- Required for compliance with CAL FIRE fire safety regulations (such as clearing around homes), or part of a fuel reduction or fire protection program that follows commonly accepted CAL FIRE policies.
- Determined necessary by fire department personnel who are actively fighting a fire.
- Necessary for a public utility to meet safety regulations or restore service. Routine utility repair and maintenance is exempt; new construction is reviewed.
- Identified by an arborist, forester or county arborist as dying or unhealthy; a dead tree (no live tissue, meaning no green leaves or live limbs); or a tree in a hazardous condition presenting an immediate danger to health and property.
- On land designated for commercial tree removal, such as Christmas tree farms or approved timber harvest operations.
- Part of a bona fide active agricultural use as defined by the county agricultural commissioner. Commercial firewood cutting and work in a riparian zone are not covered by this exemption.
Not sure if your tree is protected?
Send the address and we'll tell you whether a permit is likely, what the process looks like, and give you a free, site-specific estimate.
How Does the Placer County Tree Permit Process Work?
The Planning Services Division of the Community Development Resource Agency (CDRA) handles tree permits at the Auburn office. Which path you take depends on whether your project already needs a discretionary approval.
Minor Tree Permit. This is the path for single-family residential lots and projects with no other discretionary permit. The county accepts applications online and over the counter. Its checklist asks for a completed Universal Application with the Tree Permit entitlement selected, a site plan, and the fee. An arborist report is not normally required for a Minor Tree Permit, but the county may ask for one if the removal is significant or if it is needed to calculate mitigation fees.The site plan must show property lines, structures, driveways, grading and utilities, and every protected tree within 50 feet of the work, including each tree's base and dripline. The county's checklist asks you to apply at least 30 days before you want to begin work.A Minor Tree Permit is valid for six months from issuance, with a possible extension of up to six more months. The county arborist can also issue one in the field.Discretionary projects. For subdivisions, commercial and similar projects, tree removal is reviewed as part of the larger approval. That route requires a justification statement, a surveyed site plan locating each protected tree, and an arborist report.Fees. Application fees are due in full at submittal. We are not quoting an amount because the fee changes. The county publishes the current Planning Services Division Fee Schedule.Mitigation. The county can condition a permit on replacement. The ordinance describes inch-for-inch replacement with trees of at least 15 gallons, with at least half of the replacements being a similar native species. If the site cannot hold all the replacements, the county can require payment into the Tree Preservation Fund instead.Cutting without a permit. The penalties are real. Under Article 19.50, removing protected trees without applying first can mean replacement plus a fine equal to the market value of the replacement trees. Removing a tree that was designated to be saved can mean up to three times that. The county can also deny or defer development applications on the property, and a violation can be punished as a misdemeanor or an infraction.
The same crew from estimate to cleanup.
No juggling separate contractors for one tree. Tell us the address and what you're dealing with, and we'll come back with a written, site-specific number.
- Removal, trimming, stumps, and cleanup handled by one crew
- Free, site-specific estimates — priced to your tree, not a flat rate
- Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Yolo counties
Defensible Space, HOAs, and Getting the Work Done
Defensible space is mostly pruning, not removal. California law requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures, and Placer County's hazardous vegetation ordinance (Chapter 9.32, Part 4 of the County Code, effective May 21, 2020) governs abatement on vacant and improved parcels. The county describes three zones. Zone 0 is the ember-resistant zone within 5 feet of buildings. Zone 1 runs to 30 feet and is the "lean, clean and green" zone. Zone 2 runs from 30 to 100 feet and is the reduce-fuel zone. Inspections are done by the local fire agency.Most of that work is fuel reduction and defensible space prep: limbing up, removing dead wood, thinning ladder fuels and spacing canopies. Article 19.50 itself says the county intends to provide for fuel reduction and fire prevention, and it exempts removal required to comply with CAL FIRE fire safety regulations or done under a fuel reduction program that follows accepted CAL FIRE policies. If a defensible space inspection tells you a specific oak has to go, document that notice and call Planning Services before you cut, since the exemption depends on the removal actually being required.Pruning versus removal. The county defines cutting as detaching any limb, branch or root from a tree, and cutting counts as development activity inside the protected zone. Deadwooding is listed as routine maintenance. Heavy pruning on a native oak is worth a call to the county first.HOAs and community rules. Granite Bay and other Placer subdivisions often have CC&Rs or architectural committees with their own tree rules. Those can apply on top of the county ordinance. Check your CC&Rs and get any HOA approval in writing.Hiring the work. We can assess the trees on your lot, tell you which work looks like routine maintenance and which looks like a permit question, and give you a free site-specific estimate. We do not file permits for you or decide whether an exemption applies. The county does. Bring that answer back and we will plan the work around it.
Official sources
- Placer County Code, Article 19.50 — Woodland Conservation (Tree Preservation Ordinance) — Defines protected trees, the protected zone and riparian zones; lists the named areas, exemptions, permit types, replacement program and penalties. Published on the county's online code (ecode360.com/43609233).
- Placer County Planning Services Division — Tree Permit application checklist — Community Development Resource Agency handout for the Minor Tree Permit: application materials, site plan and arborist report requirements. Auburn office, 3091 County Center Dr., 530-745-3000, planning@placer.ca.gov.
- Placer County Planning Services Division Fee Schedule — Current application fees. Fees are not quoted on this page because they change.
- Placer County Code, Chapter 17, Section 17.02.030 — Zoning Ordinance applicability — States that the zoning chapter applies to land uses and development in the unincorporated areas of the county.
- Placer County — Defensible Space and Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance (County Code Chapter 9.32, Part 4) — County guidance on the 100-foot defensible space requirement and Zones 0, 1 and 2. Inspections come from the local fire agency; Placer County Fire 530-889-0111.
- California Public Resources Code 4291 — State defensible space law that the county ordinance aligns with.
Permit rules in nearby cities
Costs and options once the Placer County paperwork clears
What the work runs regionally, and whether removal is even the right call for the tree in question.
Emergency Tree Service Cost in Sacramento (2026)
Regional range $800–$8,000 — and what moves the number on a real job.
El Dorado County Oak Tree Permit Guide (Unincorporated Areas)
Where El Dorado County draws the line before a tree comes down, and who to check with.
Tree Pruning vs. Removal: When to Save a Tree and When to Take It Down
Pruning or Removal — how to tell which one the tree actually needs.
Tree Service in Placer County, CA
Placer County spans flat valley suburbia in Roseville and Rocklin and rises through the oak-woodland foothills to ponde…
Tree Removal in Granite Bay
Safe removal of hazardous, dead, or unwanted trees — including permit help, cleanup, and haul-off across the Sacramento region.
Crane-Assisted Tree Removal Cost in Sacramento (2026)
Regional range $2,500–$12,000 — and what moves the number on a real job.
If the tree does come down, the local page for tree removal in Placer County covers access, species, and cleanup. You can also look through the removals and takedowns we handle or read how we deal with protected trees.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to remove an oak tree in Granite Bay?
- Probably, unless an exemption applies. Granite Bay is a named area under Placer County Code Article 19.50, and the county protects native oaks with a single stem of 5 inches DBH or more. Dead trees, trees an arborist identifies as dying, and trees in immediate danger are exempt. Confirm with Placer County Planning Services at 530-745-3000 before cutting.
Is Loomis covered by the Placer County tree ordinance?
- No. Loomis is an incorporated town, and the county's zoning ordinance applies to the unincorporated parts of Placer County. Tree rules inside Town of Loomis limits come from the Town. Penryn is unincorporated, so a Penryn parcel falls under the county rules instead. Check which side of the boundary your lot is on.
What size tree is protected in unincorporated Placer County?
- The ordinance defines a tree as a California native with a single main stem of at least 6 inches DBH, or multiple trunks totaling at least 10 inches DBH. For oaks, a single stem of 5 inches DBH or more counts. Foothill pines are exempt from the article. Landmark trees and trees in riparian zones are protected under their own provisions.
Can I remove a dead tree without a permit in Placer County?
- Yes, for most protected trees. Article 19.50 exempts dead trees, meaning trees with no green leaves or live limbs, and trees in a hazardous condition posing an immediate danger. A tree that is only declining needs an arborist or forester to identify it as dying or unhealthy. Landmark trees are not covered by this exemption, so check first.
Does defensible space clearing need a tree permit?
- Not when the removal is required to comply with CAL FIRE fire safety regulations or is part of a fuel reduction program following commonly accepted CAL FIRE policies. Ordinary limbing up and dead wood removal is usually maintenance, not removal. If you are unsure whether a specific oak must come out, call Planning Services before cutting.
How long does a Placer County Minor Tree Permit take?
- The county's application checklist asks for applications at least 30 days before the work begins, so build that lead time into your schedule. Once issued, a Minor Tree Permit is valid for six months, with a possible six-month extension from the planning director. The county arborist can also issue one in the field. Ask Planning Services for the current timeline.
What happens if I cut a protected tree without a permit?
- The county can require replacement trees and a fine equal to the market value of the replacements. Removing a tree that was designated to be saved can cost up to three times that. The county may also deny or defer development applications on the property for up to five years, and a violation can be treated as a misdemeanor or infraction. A permit is far cheaper.
What does a Placer County tree permit cost?
- The fee depends on the permit type and changes over time, so we do not quote a number here. The county requires application fees to be paid in full at submittal and publishes the current amount in its Planning Services Division Fee Schedule. If mitigation is required, replacement trees or a payment into the county's Tree Preservation Fund may be added.
Hiring someone to pull the Placer County permit and do the work? Run through the paperwork worth asking any contractor for first. Broader questions are answered in our tree-work FAQ.