Buying an Older Home in Arcadia to Rebuild? Check the Oak Trees First

Arcadia's most famous residents aren't people. They're peacocks.

But if you're planning to buy an older home in Arcadia, tear it down, and rebuild, the thing to pay attention to may be the old oak tree in the yard. This is the second post in my "LA Street-Corner Real Estate History" series.

Where did the peacocks come from?

According to the LA County Arboretum, in 1879 Lucky Baldwin, the wealthy owner of the Santa Anita ranch, brought in a few pairs of peafowl. Today more than 200 peacocks live at the Arboretum, and they often wander into nearby neighborhoods.

(The Arboretum says the birds came from India. Some historians have questioned that origin, so here I'm going with the Arboretum's account.)

Baldwin also became Arcadia's first mayor when the city incorporated in 1903.

The real story: the old oaks

Take a walk around Arcadia and, along with the peacocks, you'll notice lots of large trees, many of them native oaks. They make the streets beautiful, but for buyers who want to rebuild, they can also be a major planning factor.

Arcadia's tree preservation rules

Arcadia has a tree preservation ordinance. Based on the city's published rules (always check the city's latest version):

Native oaks such as Coast Live Oak and Engelmann Oak are protected at a trunk diameter of 4 inches or more
The threshold for other oaks is 12 inches
Diameter is measured about 4.5 feet above the ground
Removing a protected tree requires a Tree Permit first
For a healthy tree, you'll generally also need a report and justification from a professional arborist

One tree can change your design, timeline, and budget

If a protected oak stands right where you want to build, it can affect:

Site layout: The location and size of the home may need to change
Timeline: Permit applications, revisions, and review all take time
Budget: Arborist reports, design changes, and any required tree protection measures all cost money

So if your goal in buying an older home is to rebuild, the first step isn't hiring a designer. It's looking at the trees in the yard.

Three things to check during escrow

I recommend clients look into these three things during the escrow contingency period:

Tree species and diameter: Have an arborist evaluate the trees on site if needed
Design rules: Arcadia has design review for new homes, and some neighborhoods have their own architectural review rules. Confirm the details with the city's Planning division
Permit history: What permits are on record for the property, and were there any unpermitted alterations?

This helps you gauge whether a rebuild is feasible before you make an offer, instead of discovering after closing that your plan won't work.

A small reminder

The peacocks are charming, but feeding them is banned at the Arboretum. If you see them in a neighborhood, just enjoy the view.

Thinking about buying in Arcadia to rebuild?

If you're looking at older homes in Arcadia or elsewhere in the San Gabriel Valley and plan to rebuild or remodel extensively, reach out. I can help you sort through the trees, design rules, and permit history together and coordinate any professional evaluations you need.