Do You Need a Permit to Cut Down an Oak Tree in Loomis?

Fall is tree-work season out here. Before the chainsaw comes out, here is what Loomis actually requires.

By Meghan Mitchell, Realtor · DRE 01440500  |  Ryan Mitchell, Mortgage Lender · Loan Factory · NMLS #2603666

Oaks are a big reason people fall in love with Loomis. They’re also a big reason people call me in a panic.

You want to clear a building pad. Open up a view. Make room for a shop. Or that old live oak is leaning toward the house and you just want it gone.

So can you cut it down? In the Town of Loomis, often yes. But usually not without a permit first. Let’s walk through it.

Which Trees Are Protected in Loomis?

The Town’s tree conservation rules live in Loomis Municipal Code Chapter 13.54. A “protected tree” is a native oak at or above these trunk sizes, measured at 4.5 feet off the ground:

1

Interior Live Oak, Valley Oak, and Oracle Oak: 6 inches in diameter or more.

2

Blue Oak: 4 inches in diameter or more. Smaller than you’d think.

3

Multi-trunk oaks: trunks adding up to 10 inches or more.

4

Heritage trees named by Town Council resolution, plus trees planted as mitigation for an earlier removal.

Pines, fruit trees, and other non-oaks generally aren’t on the protected list. Nurseries, Christmas tree farms, and orchards are exempt from the chapter.

What Needs a Permit?

Removing a protected tree needs a tree permit from the Town Manager. So does poisoning it, or doing work that endangers it.

That includes the root zone. Trenching, grading, paving, parking vehicles, or stacking materials under the canopy can all require a permit. The protected area runs from the trunk out to the longest branch, plus one foot.

The application asks for the tree’s location, size, species, and your reason. It also needs a written health rating from an ISA certified arborist or registered forester. And that arborist can’t be from the company cutting the tree. The Town has 30 days to decide on a complete application.

The Good News: Exemptions

Some situations skip the replacement requirements. Read this part carefully, because “exempt from mitigation” does not always mean “no permit.”

1

Pruning is exempt, as long as it doesn’t harm the tree.

2

Dead, dying, or hazardous trees rated 0, 1, or 2 by an approved arborist don’t require mitigation. Photos may be required.

3

Smaller residential lots. On parcels zoned for a minimum lot size of 4.6 acres or less that can’t be split further, removal is exempt from mitigation and the permit fee. You still need the permit.

4

Large parcels. On residential parcels zoned larger than RS-10 with at least ten protected trees, up to 10 percent can be removed over ten years without mitigation, with Town approval and a tree map on file.

5

Emergencies and state law. If a tree is an imminent threat to life or property, you can act, then notify the Town by the next working day. Removal required by state law is also exempt from mitigation.

What Happens If Mitigation Applies?

You replace the tree with the same species, on your property or elsewhere in Loomis. The number depends on species and size. Or you pay an in-lieu fee per inch of trunk removed.

The code’s table runs from $80 to $140 per inch. A 20-inch valley oak, for example, works out to $100 an inch. That’s $2,000 if you go the fee route.

Replanting comes with strings. Replacement trees that die within five years must be replaced, with annual arborist monitoring.

And skipping the permit? Fines start at $100 and climb to $500 for repeat offenses. Each tree, each day, can count as a separate offense. Plus you still owe the mitigation.

Meghan’s Take

Buying land to build? Walk it with an arborist before you write the offer. Count the oaks where the house, driveway, septic, and shop would go. That number can change your budget fast. And sellers, unpermitted removals can come up later. Ask the Town before you cut.

Ryan’s Take

Planning a build or a big remodel? Arborist reports, permits, and replacement trees are real costs. Put them in your project budget up front, not after the loan is set. It is a lot easier to plan for it than to scramble for it.

Penryn, Newcastle, and Unincorporated Placer County

Penryn and Newcastle aren’t inside Loomis town limits. Unincorporated areas follow Placer County’s rules instead, and they’re different.

The County issues Minor Tree Permits for single-family lots. Its application says to apply at least 30 days before the work, with a site plan showing protected trees. Most native trees around 6 inches in diameter or more, or multi-trunk trees at 10 inches combined, need to be shown when they’re within 50 feet of the work.

Not sure which rules apply? Check whether your address is in town limits. Then call Loomis Town Hall or Placer County Planning Services before you cut.

The Bottom Line

In Loomis, most native oaks of real size are protected. Plan on a permit, an arborist report, and maybe replacement trees or a fee.

Rules can change, so confirm with the Town or County first. A phone call costs nothing. A missing permit can cost plenty.

Looking at land with oaks in Loomis or Penryn?

We sell acreage here every year. We know the questions to ask before you fall for a lot. Call or text.

Meghan MitchellLicensed CA Realtor · Sold by Mitchell · DRE #01440500

916-871-5466[email protected]soldbymitchell.com

Ryan MitchellMortgage Lender · Loan Factory · NMLS #2603666

916-202-7202

This post is general information, not legal or arborist advice. Summarized from Loomis Municipal Code Chapter 13.54 and Placer County tree permit materials as of November 4, 2026. Fees, rules, and zoning details may change. Confirm requirements with the Town of Loomis or Placer County Planning Services before removing any tree. Not a commitment to lend.

Read More Articles

View All