Protected Tree Report Submittal Guidelines

Any project in the City of Los Angeles that requires the removal of protected trees or impacts protected trees in a manner that may cause protected tree death or failure requires submission of a Protected Tree Report (PTR). All protected tree removals require the approval of the Board of Public Works and an Urban Forestry Division issued protected tree removal permit.

The Urban Forestry Division requires all protected tree reports be submitted by a “Tree Expert” as defined in Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 17.02.

  1. A Registered Consulting Arborist as provided by the American Society of Consulting Arborists
  2. A California licensed Landscape Architect who is also a Certified Arborist (CA) as provided by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
  3. A California licensed Pest Control Advisor who is also a Certified Arborist (CA) as provided by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

A PTR shall contain the following minimum information:

  1. By whom the PTR is prepared
  2. For whom the PTR is prepared
  3. PTR location address with short geographic description
  4. Date PTR is prepared
  5. Date of PTR field inspection
  6. PTR purpose
  7. Table of Contents
  8. Project narrative
    1. Project Description and background
    2. Field observations
    3. Findings
    4. Recommendations
    5. Mitigation (optional, City of Los Angeles proscribes mitigation for any protected tree removal approval) The ordinance states the mitigation shall "approximate the value" of the removed trees. The current Board of Public Works policy has increased the minimum requirements for protected tree replacement to 4:1. The Bureau determines tree values or a group of trees in context with their environment.
    6. Protected tree construction impact guidelines
  9. Matrix (spreadsheet) summarizing field observations of all protected tree(s) on subject property and any offsite protected trees that may be impacted by project by number (trees to be field tagged) (provide code for offsite trees (ie OS#1), tree species, tree height, diameter, spread, physical condition (ie declining, drought stressed, twig dieback, etc.), suggested treatment, tree rating, any other related information.
  10. Matrix of proposed protected tree removals
  11. Matrix of proposed protected trees  to remain
  12. Color photographs of all proposed protected tree removals (multiple trees may be shown on a photo if there is some method to differentiate between individual trees). Additional photos of remaining protected trees preferred.
  13. Topographical map with all protected trees plotted (as close to real positions as possible, survey not required). Trees shall be color-coded, either highlighted or CAD as follows: Quercus spp - yellow, Platanus racemosa – blue, Umbellularia californica – green, Juglans californica – orange. All proposed protected tree removals shall be circled in red. Approximate canopy spread should also be included. Included on the plan shall be the footprint of any proposed buildings, walls, patios, pools, etc. Also to be included on plan is lot and proposed building(s) square footage.
  14. Landscape plan showing locations of all mitigation trees on a 4:1 basis with the tree stock size to be determined by the City. This plan shall be speicies color coded as per item 13.
  15. Verification of current licenses and certifications.
  16. Any further information that preparer opines is pertinent to the project.