Camarillo is a separate municipality but it is primarily governed by the Ventura County Tree Protection Ordinance for certain trees on private property.
Here is the breakdown for Camarillo’s tree regulations:
- The Ventura County Tree Protection Ordinance Applies
For most areas in Camarillo (outside the coastal zone), the following trees on private property are protected by the County Ordinance (which, incidentally, are not as strict as the Thousand Oaks City Ordinance):
Protected Trees: All oaks and sycamores on private property that are 9.5 inches or larger in circumference (measured 4.5 feet above ground).
Heritage Trees: Any tree of any species that is exceptionally large (90 inches or larger in circumference).
Permit Required: A permit is required for any work that goes beyond “minor pruning” or involves encroachment into the tree protection zone (TPZ).
- The Requirement for an Arborist is Built into the Permit Process
Just as with the other cities, any work requiring a County permit relies on a qualified arborist, which is effectively an ISA Certified Arborist:
Arborist Verification is Required: For “ministerial tree permits” (which cover most alterations/removals for health or safety), the County Planning Division often requires an Arborist Verification form to be submitted with the application.
Arborist Qualifications: The County’s documentation for these verification forms states they must be prepared by an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or a related professional with qualifying knowledge (though ISA certification is the most common and accepted standard).
Major Pruning: A ministerial tree permit for major pruning will only be issued if an arborist determines the pruning is needed to support the health of the tree. In no case is major pruning allowed to improve views.
Clean-up/Best Practices: Crucially, the County ordinance mandates that even when modest pruning occurs without a permit, ISA pruning practices must always be used to protect the tree’s health.
The core justification for hiring a Certified Arborist — that they apply scientific standards for health and ensure legal compliance — is just as strong in Camarillo as it is in Thousand Oaks or Westlake Village.
While the exact size threshold for a protected oak is larger in the County ordinance (9.5 inches circumference vs. 2 inches diameter for T.O.), any mature oak or sycamore in Camarillo necessitates the expertise of an ISA Certified Arborist for both the tree’s long-term health and to navigate any required permit processes.
Read About Bob Loft, ISA Certified Arborist, here.