Adoption of Tree Preservation Ordinance and Updated City Policies and Procedures

Trees have multiple positive benefits related to providing wildlife habitat, sequestering carbon to help mitigate climate change, reducing the heat-island effect, and increasing property values through beautification. Petaluma’s existing tree ordinance has not been updated to realize the increased benefit of enhanced tree protection. The updated tree preservation ordinance would update internal processes and permitting related to tree removal, update provisions for tree maintenance, planting in the public right of way, and update standard provisions for all entitlements and land use permitting. This legislation and policy update is expected to be considered by Council in Spring 2023.

The first milestone, Review Existing Regulations, Review of Draft Tree Technical Manual and ReLeaf, and Identify Case Studies, Best Practices, is anticipated to be completed by Quarter 1 of FY 2023.