Penal Code section 384c

Persons purchasing trees, shrubs, or boughs from harvesters thereof shall not transport more than five trees or more than five pounds of shrubs or boughs on the public roads or highways without obtaining from the seller of the trees, shrubs, or boughs and having validated as provided in Section 384d a transportation tag for each load of the trees, shrubs, or boughs.
Unless a valid transportation tag issued in California for a tree, shrub, or bough has already been obtained, persons who harvest trees, shrubs, or boughs from their own land or the land of another or who are in possession of trees, shrubs, or boughs shall, before transporting on the public roads or highways or selling or consigning for removal and transportation over the public roads and highways more than five trees or more than five pounds of other shrubs or boughs, file with the sheriff of each county in which the trees, shrubs, or boughs are to be harvested an application for transportation tags and obtain a supply of these transportation tags sufficient to provide one tag for each load of trees, shrubs, or boughs to be so transported or sold.
No person shall knowingly make any false statement on any application for the transportation tags and the application shall contain, but is not limited to, the following information:

(a)

The name and address of the applicant.

(b)

The amount and species of trees, shrubs, or boughs to be transported.

(c)

The name of the county from which the trees, shrubs, or boughs are to be removed.

(d)

A legal description of the real property from which the trees, shrubs, or boughs are to be removed.

(e)

The name or names of the owner of the real property from which the trees, shrubs, or boughs are to be removed.

(f)

The applicant’s timber operator permit number, if the harvesting of the trees, shrubs, or boughs is subject to the Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973 (Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 4511) of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code).

(g)

The destination of the trees, shrubs, or boughs.

(h)

The proposed date or dates of the transportation.
Every applicant shall, at the time of application, show to the sheriff his or her permit or proof of ownership of the trees, shrubs, or boughs. The application forms and transportation tags shall be printed and distributed by the sheriff of each county.

Source: Section 384c, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=384c.­ (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).

Last Updated

Apr. 24, 2025

§ 384c’s source at ca​.gov