Except for city-maintained heritage trees, each property owner is responsible for maintaining his/her heritage tree in a proper manner to sustain its health and distinctive qualities and to prevent unreasonable impairment of views and other adverse impacts to neighboring properties. Heritage trees shall be maintained in a manner consistent with the practices and policies described in the city’s landscape and scenic highways resource document.

                It is a misdemeanor for any person to remove, destroy or substantially alter or cause to be removed, destroyed or substantially altered, any heritage tree in the city without obtaining a permit to do so; provided that, in cases of emergency when a tree is hazardous or dangerous to life or property, it may be removed by order of the police or fire departments. (Ord. 1344 § 1, 1998).