What Does Tree Removal Entail in Ventura County, CA?

Adil Kaiser • November 28, 2025

It Is More Involved Than You May Think

At Ventura Tree Services, we are often asked, “What Is Involved with Tree Removal?”

Here’s a complete, real-world breakdown of what tree removal in Ventura County, CA actually entails in 2025—from the first call to us to our final cleanup. There are local regulations, permits, protected trees, and coastal-zone rules make Ventura County stricter than many other parts of California. If you have any questions or concerns around tree removal ventura county, please call us!

Step	Process	What Happens	Ventura County Specific Details
1	Initial Assessment	Our certified arborist or technician inspects the tree (health, lean, hazards, species, diameter).	Many VC cities require a written arborist report for any protected tree (see below).
2	Identify if the Tree is “Protected”	Certain cities and the county have strict tree-protection ordinances.	Protected trees include: • Native oaks (coast live oak, valley oak, etc.) ≥ 6″ DBH (diameter at breast height) • California sycamore ≥ 6″ DBH • Any tree ≥ 18–36″ DBH (varies by city) • Heritage trees (usually ≥ 50 years old or historically significant) • Street trees (owned by city)
3	Is A Permit Required?	Almost always for protected trees; sometimes even for dead/dying ones.	Cities that require permits: • Ventura (very strict) • Thousand Oaks • Simi Valley • Ojai • Camarillo • Oxnard (for oaks and some palms) • Unincorporated Ventura County (oaks ≥ 6″ need county permit)
4	Permit Process (if needed)	Submit application + arborist report + site plan + replacement plan.	dave.hill@mail.com
5	Scheduling the Removal	Once permit is approved (or if no permit needed).	Emergency removals (imminent danger) can bypass normal permit wait with fire dept/city approval.
6	Day of Removal	- Crew arrives (usually 3–6 people) - Rigging, climbing, or crane (common for large oaks near houses) - Sectional dismantling from the top down - Stump grinding (usually 12–18″ below grade)	Coastal Zone (e.g., near Ventura beaches) may have additional restrictions on equipment and hours.
7	Wood & Debris Disposal	Logs hauled away or chipped on-site.	We can offer free firewood to customers. Green waste goes to Agromin or local yard-waste facilities.
8	Replacement Planting (if desired or required)	Plant new trees (often 15-gallon or 24″ box) in same or nearby location.	Popular replacements: coast live oak, Engelmann oak, California sycamore, or approved non-native species.
9	Final Inspection (for permitted jobs)	City arborist inspects stump depth and replacement trees.	Required in Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Ojai, and unincorporated areas.