Agenda Item: 2
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
PUBLIC HEARINGS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: March 10, 2026
SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO OAK TREE REGULATIONS
DEPARTMENT: Administrative Services
PRESENTER: Valerie Ferchaw
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Conduct the public hearing.
Determine that the Ordinance is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301, 15303, 15304(e), 15305, and 15311 (categorical exemptions), and Section 15061(b)(3) (common-sense exemption).
2. Introduce an ordinance entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING A NEW § 17.22.100 TO THE
SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE DESIGNATING CERTAIN OAK TREE PERMITS AS MINISTERIAL AND AMENDING § 17.51.040 AS TO DEFINITIONS AND
TO RECONCILE THE OAK TREE PERMITS REGULATIONS WITH MINISTERIAL PERMITTING,” and pass to a second reading.
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita (City) periodically updates the Santa Clarita Municipal Code (SCMC) to address newly identified administrative issues, improve clarity, and ensure that regulations remain effective, predictable, and implementable. As part of the ongoing administration of the City’s Oak Tree Regulations (Regulation), City staff identified opportunities to refine the permit process for certain oak tree removal requests on existing single-family residential properties, while maintaining the City’s longstanding commitment to oak preservation.
Under the existing regulation, removal of an oak tree generally requires an oak tree permit pursuant to SCMC §17.23.170 and §17.51.040. Most removal requests are processed through a
discretionary review process requiring preparation of an arborist report, payment of applicable fees, and compliance with mitigation requirements. Approval requires one or more discretionary findings under SCMC §17.23.170(E), including findings related to tree condition, interference, reasonable use of the property, or lack of feasible alternatives.
Through continued implementation of the Regulation and years of interaction with homeowners, City staff encountered recurring concerns related to personal safety, structural risk during high- wind events, property functionality, and homeowner insurance requirements when oak trees are located in close proximity to legally permitted structures. For single-family residents who live day in and day out within the potential fall radius of a large oak tree, this proximity can create ongoing and genuine concerns regarding the health, safety, and well-being of their families and domesticated animals, particularly during seasonal wind events or severe weather conditions.
While these concerns vary by circumstance and do not necessarily reflect a hazardous determination under the existing code, City staff observed that many of these situations share a common physical condition: a qualifying structure located within the fall zone of an oak tree.
The presence of a qualifying structure within an oak tree’s fall zone can be determined through objective, location-based criteria. However, under the current Regulation, this condition does not independently qualify for exemption; and, therefore, requires discretionary review and associated findings, even when eligibility factors are measurable and fact-based.
In response, City staff evaluated potential code amendments and developed a narrowly tailored proposal to establish a ministerial Class I oak tree permit applicable exclusively to property owners of existing single-family dwellings or accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The proposed amendments are intended to provide a predictable and objective permit pathway in defined residential circumstances, allowing homeowners to responsibly address proximity-related concerns while maintaining mitigation requirements and preserving the broader oak tree preservation framework.
City staff presented these proposed amendments to the Planning Commission on January 20, 2026. The Planning Commission, in a 5-0 vote, adopted a resolution recommending the City Council adopt an ordinance and approve Master Case 25-160. The Planning Commission agenda report is available in the City Clerk’s reading file.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposed updates would amend the SCMC as follows:
• Add new SCMC §17.22.100 to establish a ministerial (Class I) oak tree permit applicable only to property owners of existing single-family dwellings or ADUs when a qualifying structure is located within the fall zone of an oak tree.
• Provide that eligibility for the Class I permit is based on objective criteria and does not require the discretionary findings set forth in SCMC §17.23.170(E).
• Define “qualifying structures” as legal permanent structures intended for (1) human habitation; (2) regular recreational or practical use; (3) sheltering domesticated animals; or (4) utility-owned facilities or infrastructure.
• Provide examples of qualifying structures, including single-family dwellings, garages, ADUs, swimming pools, pergolas, horse stalls, kennels, and similar permanent structures.
• Clarify examples of non-qualifying structures, including trampolines, swing sets, portable sheds, recreational equipment, patio furniture, and landscaping features, to ensure consistent and objective application.
• Provide that, for utility-owned facilities and infrastructure, a permit may be issued only upon substantial evidence that the oak tree will damage or interfere with such facilities or infrastructure.
• Amend SCMC §17.51.040 to update the definition of an “oak tree,” including retention of the exclusion of scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) on properties occupied by a single- family residence.
• Add a definition of “fall zone,” defined as the area within a radius equal to the height of the tree measured from the edge of the root collar. The fall zone is distinct from the existing “protected zone,” which continues to regulate construction and encroachment activities.
The Class I ministerial permit would apply to all oak trees meeting the defined eligibility criteria, including heritage oak trees.
The ministerial permit pathway would not apply to commercial development, multi-family residential development, subdivision activity, or development-related oak tree removals. All such requests would continue to be processed under the existing discretionary permit framework.
The proposed amendments do not modify or expand the Regulation’s existing emergency exemption provisions.
MITIGATION
Oak tree removal approved through the Class I ministerial permit would remain subject to mitigation requirements.
Replacement trees must be planted on the same property from which they were removed unless no appropriate location for replanting exists. If on-site planting is not feasible, mitigation trees may be donated to the City or an in-lieu fee may be paid.
The proposed updates to the Regulation establish a defined replacement schedule based on trunk diameter. For trees measuring:
• 4 to 8 inches in diameter: One 24-inch box native oak tree
• 8 to 12 inches in diameter: Two 24-inch box native oak trees
• 12 inches or greater in diameter: Three 24-inch box native oak trees
In all cases, the total mitigation value for removal under a Class I permit shall not exceed $1,500, subject to annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
ANALYSIS
Findings (SCMC §17.06.130)
1. Consistency with the General Plan –
The amendments support General Plan objectives related to public safety, regulatory clarity, and predictable administration of City regulations. It would continue to promote oak tree preservation while establishing a defined and objective ministerial pathway for qualifying single-family residential properties.
2. Compliance with the SCMC –
The amendments modify the SCMC itself and do not conflict with other provisions of the code. The proposal creates a new ministerial permit category without altering zoning classifications, densities, or development standards.
3. Public Health, Safety, and Welfare –
The proposed Class I permit provides an objective mechanism to address situations in which qualifying structures are located within the fall zone of an oak tree. This process allows residents to address concerns related to safety and property use while maintaining mitigation requirements. The permit applies to all qualifying oak trees, including heritage oak trees, and is limited to defined single-family residential circumstances, thereby preserving the public interest while improving administrative efficiency.
4. Physical Suitability –
The project does not authorize development or physical improvements. Any future oak tree removal would remain subject to applicable mitigation requirements and enforcement provisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS
The updates have been reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Adoption of the amendments is exempt from further environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301, 15303, 15304(e), 15305, and 15311, as the amendments establish rules and procedures governing limited circumstances involving existing development and minor land use activities.
In addition, adoption of the amendments is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the common-sense exemption, because the amendments establish general policies and procedural regulations and do not authorize development or eliminate mitigation requirements. It can be
seen with certainty that there is no possibility that adoption of the amendments may have a significant effect on the environment.
PUBLIC NOTICING
All notices required by law were completed, consisting of a legal advertisement published in The Signal newspaper on February 13, 2026.
CONCLUSION
The proposed amendments establish a clear and objective ministerial permit pathway for the removal of oak trees on existing single-family residential properties when a qualifying structure is located within the tree’s fall zone. By defining eligibility criteria, establishing mitigation requirements, applying the permit to all qualifying oak trees including heritage oak trees, and preserving the broader discretionary framework for all other circumstances, the amendments provide a balanced and narrowly tailored refinement to the Oak Tree Regulations.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Public Hearing Notice
Ordinance
Notice of Exemption
Planning Commission Agenda Packet (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)