California has no single law that bans cutting down all trees, but many trees are protected. The main ones are western Joshua trees, native oaks in many cities and counties, heritage or landmark trees named by local governments, city-owned street trees, and trees in state and national parks. You also can’t cut down a tree that belongs to your neighbor, and redwoods and other timber trees can’t be logged for sale without state approval. In most cases, your city or county sets the rules, so the answer depends on where you live.
Some of the details may surprise you. The western Joshua tree became the first plant in California protected by its own state law, passed in 2023. In Los Angeles, the protected list includes more than oaks. It also covers western sycamore, California bay laurel, Southern California black walnut, and toyon, a shrub-like tree with red berries that gave Hollywood its name. Cutting a protected tree without a permit can lead to fines in the thousands of dollars per tree, and some cities make you plant several new trees to replace the one you removed. If you cut a neighbor’s tree, state law can make you pay two or three times its value.
Western Joshua Trees
The western Joshua tree grows in the Mojave Desert, in places like Joshua Tree National Park, Palmdale, Lancaster, and parts of San Bernardino County. These trees grow slowly and face threats from heat, drought, wildfires, and building projects.
Under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, you need a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to cut down, move, or harm one. This applies even if the tree is on your own land. Homeowners and builders can get permits, but they often have to pay fees that go into a fund for protecting the species. Some small projects, like work on a single home, may have simpler steps, but you still need to follow the process.
Native Oak Trees
Oaks are the most commonly protected trees in California. Types like the coast live oak, valley oak, blue oak, and Engelmann oak once covered huge parts of the state, and many have been lost to farming and new homes.
The state doesn’t ban cutting oaks on private land. Instead, it requires counties to think about oak woodlands when they approve building projects. Many cities and counties go further. Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita, and many other places require a permit to remove an oak over a certain size. The size is often measured by the width of the trunk at about four and a half feet above the ground. Even trimming large branches or digging near the roots can require approval in some areas.
Heritage, Landmark, and Street Trees
Many cities keep a list of heritage or landmark trees. These trees are protected because of their age, size, beauty, or history. San Francisco, for example, has landmark trees that need special approval before any major work is done. Other cities protect any tree over a certain size, no matter what kind it is.
Street trees are another common case. The tree between the sidewalk and the street in front of your house often belongs to the city, even though it sits near your property. You usually can’t remove or heavily trim it without a city permit. Some cities also protect trees on hillsides or near creeks, since their roots help hold soil in place.
Redwoods and Timber Rules
Many people think redwoods are fully protected across the state. That isn’t quite true. A homeowner can sometimes remove a redwood on private land, as long as local rules allow it. However, cutting redwoods or other trees to sell the wood falls under state forest rules. This usually requires a timber harvest plan approved by CAL FIRE.
Old-growth redwoods in state and national parks are fully protected. Some coastal counties, like Santa Cruz and Marin, also have strict local rules about removing large trees, including redwoods.
Trees in Parks and on Public Land
Cutting or damaging trees in state parks, national parks, and national forests is against the law without permission. This includes taking branches, bark, or small plants. In national forests, you can sometimes buy a permit to cut a Christmas tree or collect firewood, but only in marked areas and under set rules.
Trees That Belong to Someone Else
If a tree’s trunk sits on your neighbor’s land, it belongs to them. You can usually trim branches that hang over your side of the property line, but you can’t cut the tree down or harm its health. If you damage or kill it on purpose, you could owe your neighbor double or even triple the tree’s value.
When You Can Remove a Protected Tree
Protection doesn’t always mean a tree has to stay forever. Most cities allow removal if the tree is dead, dying, diseased, or unsafe. Fire safety is another common reason. State law requires homeowners in high fire risk areas to clear space around their homes, and local rules often allow tree work to meet those needs. Trees near power lines may also be trimmed or removed by utility companies.
Even in these cases, many cities still want you to apply for a permit or get a report from a certified arborist first. In a true emergency, like a tree that has fallen or is about to fall on a house, you can often act first and file paperwork afterward.
How to Check Before You Cut
The best step is to call your city or county planning department before you touch a large tree. Ask whether the tree is protected and whether you need a permit. If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, check their rules too, since they may have their own limits.
It also helps to know what kind of tree you have. A local arborist can tell you the species, measure its size, and check its health. This can save you from costly fines and give you a clear answer on your options.
Taking a few minutes to check the rules can protect both your wallet and the trees that make California’s landscape so special.