Trees younger than five years old are most at risk during the hot summer months. To thrive, they need water delivered slowly and deeply, ideally using drip irrigation.

When drip irrigation is not possible, trees need extra help. Learn the "bucket method" for efficiently watering young trees in the brief video below produced by the Sacramento Tree Foundation in partnership with Be Water Smart.

Find more tree watering tips at BeWaterSmart.info and SacTree.com/Water.

How to Care for Young Trees

Trees younger than five years old are most at risk during the hot summer months. To thrive, they need water delivered slowly and deeply, ideally using drip irrigation.

When drip irrigation is not possible, trees need extra help. Learn the "bucket method" for efficiently watering young trees in the brief video below produced by the Sacramento Tree Foundation in partnership with Be Water Smart.

Find more tree watering tips at BeWaterSmart.info and SacTree.com/Water.

• Sacramento Tree Foundation - A community benefit organization working to build healthy, livable communities in the Sacramento region by growing the best urban forest in the nation.
• International Society of Arboriculture - Promotes the professional practice of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees through research, technology, and education. Resources include information on tree selection, proper tree care and pruning, and tree problems and treatments.
• California Urban Forests Council - A nonprofit coalition that hosts events and workshops to expand sustainable urban and community forests to improve the quality of life for all Californians.
• California ReLeaf – A nonprofit organization that works statewide to promote alliances among community-based groups, individuals, industry, and government agencies, encouraging each to contribute to the livability of our cities and the protection of our environment by planting and caring for trees. California ReLeaf also serves as the State’s volunteer coordinator for urban forestry in partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
• National Arbor Day Foundation - Inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees through their conservation and education programs such as the Tree City USA program.
• University of California Integrated Pest Management - UC IPM is a part of the statewide UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR). Provides science based information on pests and diseases.

You must obtain a permit from the Department of Public Works if you wish to remove or prune more than 10% of any protected tree in the City of Rancho Cordova. Examples of protected trees include street trees, native oaks and prominent or stately trees.

Submit a Request for a Tree Removal Permit online.

If you have questions, please email the team at TreePermits@cityofranchocordova.org.

What is the definition of a Protected Tree in Rancho Cordova?

1. Native oak – Quercus lobata, valley oak; Quercus wislizenii, interior live oak; Quercus douglasii, blue oak; or Quercus morehus, oracle oak – having a trunk diameter of six (6) inches or greater, measured at 4.5 feet (54 inches) above ground level.
2. Any tree species other than a native oak having a trunk diameter of at least twelve (12) inches or greater measured at 4.5 feet (54 inches) above ground level on non-residential property.
3. Any tree species other than a native oak having a trunk diameter of at least twenty-four (24) inches or greater measured at 4.5 feet (54 inches) above ground level on residential property.
4. Any tree planted as a requirement tree for site development, tree permit condition, landscape plan removal replacement, or other designated condition by the Public Works Director or Planning Director.

Are permits required to remove or prune protected trees?

You must obtain a permit from the Public Works Director if you wish to prune more than 10% or more of the overall canopy or branches greater than two inches in diameter in the City of Rancho Cordova. Root pruning is not allowed without special provisions of your permit.

Unless you are certain about the amount of foliage you plan to remove from a tree, it is recommended that you consult the city or a professional arborist before performing any work. Misguided maintenance could lead to harming your tree or paying a penalty.

Where can I apply for a permit?

 Tree permit applications can be submitted online by using Rancho Cordova Online.

Is there a fee for the permit?

A permit fee of $31.00 is due at the time of permit issuance for work on any protected tree. The permit fee partially covers the cost of processing the permit.

What happens after I submit my Tree Permit application?

Upon receiving the application, a representative from the City’s Public Works office will evaluate your reasons for tree work against the guidelines of the Protected Tree Ordinance Section 19.12.070. The tree may also be inspected by the City Arborist. The property owner will be informed of approval or denial of the tree permit, and the permit can be paid for and picked up at City Hall located at 2729 Prospect Park Dr., Rancho Cordova.

How long does it take to get a permit approved?

Allow up to twenty (20) days for permit decisions. The more supplementary information that can be provided along with the application, the quicker it will be to assess the situation and reach a determination. Additional documentation such as an arborist report, photos of damaged structures, letters of concern from neighbors, etc. to support your application may be requested in some cases.

California Central Valley native oak trees (valley oak, interior live oak, blue oak, oracle oak) and nonnative trees are afforded various levels of protection per the Rancho Cordova Municipal Code Title 19. Protected trees require a permit for major pruning (pruning in a way which reduces the overall canopy of the tree by 10 percent or more or cutting of roots or branches greater than two inches diameter within a 12-month period) or to remove. For tree permit applications, an arborist report is often required. For development projects that will impact or remove on-site or off-site trees, an arborist report is required as a part of the Planning Application.

 “Protected tree” means:

1. Native oak – Quercus lobata, valley oak; Quercus wislizenii, interior live oak; Quercus douglasii, blue oak; or Quercus morehus, oracle oak – having a trunk diameter of at least six inches or greater; or
2. Any tree species other than a native oak having a trunk diameter of at least 12 inches or greater on nonresidential property; or
3. Any tree species other than a native oak having a trunk diameter of at least 24 inches or greater on residential property; or
4. Any tree planted as a requirement tree for site development, tree permit condition, landscape plan removal replacement, or other designated condition by the public works director or planning director.

Arborist Report shall contain the following:

• Site address or project title
• Applicant Name, Address and Phone Number
• Arborist Name, Address, Phone Number, ISA Certification Number Date of Preparation
• Species List – Construction sites shall include all on-site trees and all off-site trees that have canopies overhanging the site or that may be impacted by off-site project-related construction
• Identification:
  • Name: Both common and scientific name (genus and species)
  • Number: All trees shall be identified by number in the report and on a locator map or exhibit. Heavily treed sites may require identification by a corresponding numbered tag attached to the tree in a manner consistent with current arboricultural practices.
• Assessment:
  • Size: Measured diameter of the trunk at 54 inches above grade, commonly referred to as diameter at standard height (DSH) or diameter at breast height (DBH); if other than DSH then alternate measurement height must be identified. If the tree is multi-trunked and has a common root system that branches at the ground, DSH means the sum of the diameter of the largest trunk and one-half the cumulative diameter of the remaining trunks at four and one-half feet above natural grade. This will be used to determine tree replacement mitigation.
  • Tree Health: a measure of overall vigor and vitality of the tree and rated as good, fair or poor based on an assessment of crown density, leaf color and size, active callusing, shoot growth rate, extent of crown dieback, cambium layer health, and tree age.
  • Tree Structure: a measure of the tree’s structural stability and failure potential and rated as good, fair or poor based on assessment of specific structural features, eg., decay, conks, co-dominant trunks, included bark, abnormal lean, one-sided canopy, history of failure, prior construction impact, pruning history, etc.
  • Overall Tree Condition: Based on the foregoing tree health and structural assessment
• Recommendation for Preservation or Removal: Based on the above overall tree assessment, the arborist shall provide a written recommendation either to preserve or to remove the tree. A recommendation for tree preservation during site development shall identify measures necessary for long term maintenance of the tree, such as crown cleanout, deep root fertilization, cabling, annual inspection, mulch placement, etc. A recommendation for removal shall identify all significant health and structural (safety) defects that would justify removal, such as excessive canopy die back, excessive root or trunk decay, etc.
  • General recommendations for the preservation of all protected trees on the site during and after construction. These recommendations should include such things as grading, trenching, filling, or paving beneath oak trees, fencing and landscaping requirements beneath oak trees, construction plan and specification requirements, etc.

Visit our Master Tree List for a guide to choosing tree species that are well adapted to our region. Choosing suitable trees for our climate will enhance our urban forest and ensure the trees in our community will be successful in growing to their mature size.

For additional information or questions, please contact Public Works at TreePermits@cityofranchocordova.org.