ORDINANCE NO. 26-__
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
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: A new § 17.22.100 is added to the Santa Clarita Municipal Code (SCMC) to read as follows:
“17.22.100 Oak Tree Permit – Class I Ministerial Process
The Class I ministerial permit process applies to property owners of existing single- family dwellings or accessory dwelling units who seek to remove an oak tree that has a qualifying structure located within its fall zone. A qualifying structure constitutes a legal permanent structure that is (1) intended for human habitation; (2) regular recreational or practical use; (3) commonly utilized for sheltering domesticated animals; or (4) constitutes a utility-owned facility or infrastructure. Examples of qualifying structures include, without limitation, single-family dwelling units; garages; accessory dwelling units (ADUs); swimming pools; pergolas; horse stalls; kennels; or similar structures.
Structures such as trampolines, swing sets, portable sheds, recreational equipment, patio furniture, and landscaping features, are not qualifying structures. For utility-owned facilities and infrastructure, a permit may be issued only upon substantial evidence that an oak tree will damage or interfere with such facilities or infrastructure.”
SECTION 2: SCMC § 17.51.040 is amended to read as follows:
“a. “Oak tree” means any oak tree of the genus Quercus and native to California including, without limitation, valley oak (Quercus lobata), California live oak (Quercus agrifolia), canyon oak (Quercus chrysolepis), interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii) and scrub oak (Quercus dumosa), regardless of size. In the case of properties occupied by a single-family residence, scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) is excluded from this list.
A. “Fall Zone” means the area defined by a circle around the tree with a radius equal to the tree height as measured from the edge of the tree’s root collar.
B. Conditions. Conditions may be imposed on the permit at the discretion of the approving authority, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(f) For Class I oak tree permits, replacement trees must be planted on the same property from which they were removed unless there is no appropriate place for planting. If an appropriate location for replanting does not exist, mitigation
trees may be donated to the City following the replacement schedule below or their monetary value may be paid to the City to the satisfaction of the Director.
For oak tree removal pursuant to a Class I oak tree permit, a permittee must either replace the oak tree or pay a fee based upon the calculations below. In all instances, the total mitigation value may not exceed $1,500, subject to annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as determined by the Director.
1. For trees measuring 4 inches to 8 inches in diameter: One 24-inch-box native oak tree.
2. For trees measuring 8 inches to 12 inches in diameter: Two 24-inch-box native oak trees.
3. For trees measuring 12 inches or more in diameter: Three 24-inch-box native oak trees.”
SECTION 3: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT. This Ordinance was reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Adopting this Ordinance is exempt from further environmental review because it establishes rules and procedures for the operation of existing facilities; minor temporary use of land; minor alterations in land use; new construction of small structures; and minor structures accessory to existing commercial facilities.
The Ordinance, therefore, is categorically exempt from further CEQA review under CEQA Guidelines §§ 15301; 15303, 15304(e); 15305; and 15311. Further, adopting the ordinance is also exempt from review under CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3) because the ordinance is for general policies and procedure-making. It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. Individual projects utilizing these regulations will each be separately subject to an environmental assessment.
SECTION 4: CONSTRUCTION. This Ordinance must be broadly construed to achieve the purposes stated in this Ordinance. It is the City Council’s intent that the provisions of this Ordinance be interpreted or implemented by the City and others in a manner that facilitates the purposes set forth in this Ordinance.
SECTION 5: ENFORCEABILITY. Repeal of any provision of the SCMC does not affect any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred before, or preclude prosecution and imposition of penalties for any violation occurring before this Ordinance’s effective date. Any such repealed part will remain in full force and effect for sustaining action or prosecuting violations occurring before the effective date of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6: RELIANCE ON RECORD. Each and every one of the findings and determinations in this Ordinance is based on the competent and substantial evidence, both oral and written, contained in the entire record relating to the project. The findings and determinations constitute the independent findings and determinations of the City Council in all respects and are fully and completely supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole.
SECTION 7: LIMITATIONS. The City Council’s analysis and evaluation of the project is based on the best information currently available. It is inevitable that in evaluating a project, absolute and perfect knowledge of all possible aspects of the project will not exist. One of the major limitations on analysis of the project is the City Council’s lack of knowledge of future events. In all instances, best efforts have been made to form accurate assumptions. Somewhat related to this are limitations on the City’s ability to solve what are in effect regional, state, and national problems and issues. The City must work within the political framework within which it exists and with the limitations inherent in that framework.
SECTION 8: SUMMARIES OF INFORMATION. All summaries of information in the findings, which precede this section, are based on the substantial evidence in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any such summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based in part on that fact.
SECTION 9: SEVERABILITY. If any part of this Ordinance or its application is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable.
SECTION 10: RECORDING. The City Clerk, or her duly appointed deputy, is directed to certify the passage and adoption of this Ordinance; cause it to be entered into the City of Santa Clarita’s book of original ordina nces; make a note of the passage and adoption in the records of this meeting; and, within 15 days after the passage and adoption of this Ordinance, cause it to be published or posted in accordance with California law.
SECTION 11: ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES . This Ordinance may be executed with electronic signatures in accordance with Government Code §16.5. Such electronic signatures will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.
SECTION 12: EXECUTION. The Mayor, or presiding officer, is hereby authorized to affix his signature to this Ordinance signifying its adoption by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, and the City Clerk, or duly appointed deputy, is directed to attest thereto.
SECTION 13: EFFECTIVE D ATE. This ordinance becomes effective on the 30th day following its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ____ day of _________, 2026.
____________________________
MAYOR
ATTEST:
________________________________
CITY CLERK
DATE: ________________________
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 26-__ was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the __ day of _______ 2026. That thereafter, said ordinance was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the __ day of ______ 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
AND I FURTHER CERTIFY that the foregoing is the original of Ordinance No. 26-__ and was published in The Signal newspaper in accordance with State Law (G.C. 40806).
______________________________
CITY CLERK