Friday, July 31, 2026

City Will Hold PUSD Accountable for Tree Removals Before District Exempted Itself From Protection Ordinance

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

[Updated]   The City said Thursday it intends to hold the Pasadena Unified School District accountable for any protected trees removed before the district exempted itself from the city’s tree protection ordinance, while continuing to challenge the district’s actions in court.

In a statement, Chief Communications Officer Lisa Derderian said the city repeatedly had asked PUSD to obtain tree removal permits before removing trees at campuses undergoing Eaton Fire recovery work. 

According to the city, PUSD proceeded without permits, prompting Pasadena to issue stop-work orders and obtain court-authorized inspection warrants to evaluate affected trees.

The City has now completed inspections at all campuses where work was expected to occur and, “to the greatest extent possible, intends to hold the District accountable for any protected trees that were damaged or removed before PUSD adopted its resolution [to exempt itself from the city ordinance].”

Following the city’s inspections, PUSD’s governing board adopted a resolution exempting the district from the city’s zoning regulations, including its Tree Protection Ordinance. 

State law allows a school district governing board to declare certain local zoning ordinances inapplicable to a proposed use of district property under certain conditions.

The City noted that the exemption remains the subject of ongoing litigation and said Los Angeles County Superior Court previously denied PUSD’s request for a broad injunction that would have prevented Pasadena from enforcing any of its laws against the district. The Court did so after the city indicated it would no longer enforce the stop-work orders for classroom facilities exempted from the City’s zoning ordinance subject to the Board-adopted Resolution 2896.

Because of PUSD’s action under state law, the city said it did not pursue enforcement of some stop-work orders, including at one site where the district had already completed all tree removals within its approved scope of work.

“To the extent PUSD has elected to move forward with tree removals, they are relying on state law to do so and have elected to pursue this path over the objections of the City and the community,” the statement said.

The City said it will continue defending its position in court.

“The City of Pasadena will continue to represent the interests of the City in this matter and reserves its rights to make further arguments before the court,” the statement said.

The dispute stems from PUSD’s efforts to remove trees and excavate fire-contaminated soil at several campuses following the Eaton Fire. City officials contend the district was required to comply with Pasadena’s Tree Protection Ordinance before invoking its exemption under state law, while PUSD maintains the work is necessary to facilitate environmental cleanup and the reopening of schools.