Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Pasadena Stop-Work Order Alleges PUSD Removed Trees Without Required Permits

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

According to a stop-work order posted by the City’s Planning Department at John Muir High School, crews working for the Pasadena Unified School District did not have the necessary permits to remove trees on that campus. 

“Until proper approval of permits is obtained from the City of Pasadena Planning Department, it is required that you immediately discontinue the removal or injury of all trees on campus,” the July 1 notice reads. 

Crews allegedly continued tree removal after the notice was posted and eventually removed three trees. 

District officials have said the removals are necessary to remediate contaminated soil and protect student health and that the work is governed by state agencies. 

According to City Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian, the city notified PUSD that it is subject to Pasadena’s Tree Protection Ordinance, which requires a permit before protected trees can be removed. 

“PUSD continued removal activity at various sites, which has resulted in the posting of stop-work orders. The city must conduct inspections to determine what trees are protected and therefore subject to the ordinance. The city has not been granted permission to conduct the inspections, and the stop-work orders remain in effect,” Derderian said. 

Pasadena’s Tree Protection Ordinance, adopted in 2010, is designed to preserve the city’s urban forest by regulating the removal of protected trees on both public and private property. The ordinance requires property owners to obtain a permit before removing designated protected trees, including landmark trees and certain native or specimen trees. Permit applications are reviewed by the city, which considers factors such as the tree’s health, safety, environmental value and whether alternatives to removal exist. 

The ordinance also establishes enforcement measures to prevent unauthorized removals. The city may issue stop-work orders, assess fines and require replacement trees when violations occur. While routine pruning of most private trees generally does not require a permit, work involving protected or landmark trees is subject to stricter review and must comply with professional arboricultural standards. The ordinance is intended to balance property rights with the long-term environmental and community benefits provided by Pasadena’s tree canopy. 

One of the ordinance’s most notable enforcement cases occurred in 2017, when the iconic palm trees at the former Twin Palms restaurant were removed without the required city permit. Pasadena responded with enforcement action, and the highly publicized incident prompted city officials to consider tougher penalties for illegal tree removals, reinforcing the ordinance’s role in protecting the city’s historic and significant trees. 

“In an effort to remediate contaminants found in the soil of Pasadena’s schools in May 2025, Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) has opted to scrape soils at schools across the district. As part of this project, the district is also removing 193 trees,” Friends of PUSD Trees posted on its website. “While the health and safety of students, staff, and families is crucial, there is simply no science that supports tree removal for soil remediation. In fact, trees can actually help sequester heavy metals in soil. Tree canopy is vital for student and staff health and would take decades to replace.” 

The group has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Toxic Substances Control and the school district. 

“We are asking that public agencies and elected local officials act with transparency, follow California law, and fully consider the impact of destroying dozens of mature trees and wildlife habitat before making irreversible decisions that will affect Pasadena’s neighborhoods and school communities for generations to come.” 

The City Council will discuss pending litigation involving the dispute between the city and PUSD over the Tree Protection Ordinance during a special closed-session meeting tonight.