Ventura County Adopts Emergency Law to Protect Historic Trees : Preservation: Cutting them without a permit could be punishable by a $1,000 fine and a year in jail.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has adopted an emergency ordinance making it more difficult for landowners to remove oak, sycamore and other large and historically significant trees.

The ordinance, which is aimed at protecting old oak and sycamore trees, makes cutting such trees without a permit punishable by fines of as much as $1,000 and a jail term of up to one year.

The measure also covers any tree with a diameter of 28.65 inches or more and those designated as landmarks by local, state or federal authorities.

It protects all such trees in unincorporated areas, regardless of whether they are on private land.

Landowners could, however, obtain permission to cut protected trees by arguing that their removal is necessary to develop the land.

The ordinance, which has gone into effect, also allows residents to trim only those limbs of the protected trees that are less than two inches in diameter.

The tree measure was adopted at the behest of Supervisor Vicky Howard, who was concerned about the removal of 100 mature trees on the Newhall Ranch between Simi Valley and Piru within the past month.

A spokesman for Newhall Land & Farming Co. said the oaks were removed as part of a “ranch beautification” program to allow citrus trees more sun, clean up overgrown areas and create additional cattle pasture.

Howard rejected Newhall’s characterization of the tree-cutting.

“I have a hard time seeing land more beautiful without trees,” she said.

The emergency ordinance will be in place for 45 days while county officials complete writing a permanent one.

Such an ordinance has been under development by the county for more than a year.

Howard and Supervisor Maria VanderKolk said they have heard complaints from many constituents about oak trees being cut in the eastern portion of the county the past few weeks.

“This is just a wonderful solution,” VanderKolk said.

One landowner, for example, reportedly has cut six oak trees of at least three feet in diameter.

Howard said she suspects that many landowners have hurried to cut down trees before adoption of the tree protection ordinance.

The supervisors are expected to vote on the permanent ordinance after a public hearing in July.

Under the emergency law, landowners will have to obtain permits from the county Planning Division before cutting any protected trees.

The permits will be issued if the landowner can prove that the removal is necessary for development of the land. Permits will also be issued for cutting diseased trees.

Inspectors who investigate building code violations will be responsible for enforcing the ordinance.

Landowners can appeal decisions regarding cutting permits to the Planning Commission.

Public agencies and public utility companies that must cut protected trees for maintenance purposes are exempt from the law.