Alameda County Permits

Trees that require a permit for removal in Hayward are trees of defined size, protected species, “street” trees, and “dedication” or “memorial” trees. Size specifications include any tree measured at 8in diameter (25.12in circumference) 4.5ft above ground.

List of Protected Trees that require permit:

1. Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)

2. California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)

3. Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)

4. Western Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)

5. California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa)

6. Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)

7. Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis)

8. Blue Oak (Quercus douglassii)

9. Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana)

10. California Black Oak (Quercus kelloggi)

11. Valley Oak (Quercus lobata)

12. Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizenii)

13. California Bay (Umbellularia californica)

The City of Hayward has provided an FAQ for residents regarding the removal/pruning of trees. Visit the City of Hayward’s Tree Removal/Pruning Permit page for the full article.

In the city of Berkeley, the only trees that require a permit to remove include city trees and coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). Coast live oak is the only species that the city restricts the removal of on private property.

City trees are:

1. Any tree growing between the sidewalk and the street or in a street median

2. Any tree in a city park

3. Any other property owned by the City of Berkeley

For more information, please visit the City of Berkeley’s page on Tree Pruning or Removal or visit the permit directly at Tree Removal Permit.

For Oakland on any property, trees are protected by size: any tree larger than 9in in diameter (28.26in circumference) except Eucalyptus and Monterey Pine.

Trees protected by species:

1. California Oak

2. Coast Live Oak

3. Special exceptions: Monterey Pine is to be protected in the case where a lot is being cleared for development. In this case, if more than 5 Monterey Pine are to be removed, a permit is needed unless the lot size is larger than 1 acre. If the lot must be cleared for reasons other than development, no permit is needed.

For more information, visit Oakland Protected Trees for a summary of the city ordinance. Or for the city code in full, visit Oakland City Code of Ordinance Chapter 12.36, Protected Trees.

The City of San Leandro allows for a property owner to, upon approval by the Public Works Director, remove a street tree at the property owner’s expense. A property owner now has the option to remove or prune a street tree that is otherwise in good/fair health. The following steps are required:

1. Contact Public Works at 510-577-3440 with your street address. Staff will assess the tree to determine health/viability.

2. If Public Works staff determines that the tree is in healthy and not in need of pruning, the property owner may proceed with pruning/removal of the tree after Step 3.

3. Prior to pruning or removal of a City tree, the property owner is required to first obtain an Encroachment Permit from Engineering and Transportation Department., located at 835 E 14th Street.

If you would like to learn more about tree permits in the City of San Leandro, please visit their page here.

For most cases in the City of Fremont, you need a permit to prune or remove a tree in your front yard. A permit is always required to remove, prune or plant a tree near a sidewalk or street. This applies to residents, HOA’s and businesses.

List of protected trees that require permit:

1. A tree having a DBH (Diameter at breast height) of six inches or more and located on a vacant or underdeveloped lot;

2. A tree having a DBH of six inches or more and located on a developed lot which is the subject of a contemplated or pending application for a development project;

3. A native tree or tree of exceptional adaptability to the Fremont area having a DBH of 10 inches or more;

4. A tree having a DBH of eighteen inches or more;

5. A tree that was required by the City to be planted or retained as mitigation for the removal of a tree;

6. A tree planted or retained as a condition of any City-conferred development project approval, including approvals conferred prior to adoption of this Chapter;

7. One of six or more trees of the same species that are located on the same lot and that each have six or more inches in DBH.

For more information about Tree Removal/Pruning Permits in Fremont, visit the full article and FAQ.

In the event that someone decides to remove or trim(pruning) a tree in Union City, an application shall first be made to the Director of Public Works of the City of Union City for a permit.

List of protected trees that require permit:

1. All trees which have a 35 inch or greater circumference of a trunk, or in the case of multi trunk trees, a total of 70 inches or more of the circumference of all trunks, where such trees are located on residential property.

2. All trees which have a 12 inch or greater circumference of any trunk, when removal relates to any transaction for which zoning approval or subdivision approval is required.

3. Any tree that existed at the time of a zoning approval or subdivision approval and was a specific subject of such approval or otherwise covered by #2 above

4. Any tree that was required to be planted by the terms of a zoning approval or a subdivision approval.

5. All trees which have a 12 inch or greater circumference of any trunk and are located on a vacant lot or undeveloped property.

6. All trees which have 12 inch or greater circumference of any trunk and are located on commercial, office, or industrial developed property.

To find more information about Union City’s Tree Ordinance, please visit Union City’s Tree Permit PDF

List of protected trees that require permit:

1. A tree having a DBH (Diameter at breast height) of six inches or more and located on a vacant or underdeveloped lot;

2. A tree having a DBH of six inches or more and located on a developed lot which is the subject of a contemplated or pending application for a development project;

3. A native tree or tree of exceptional adaptability to the Fremont area having a DBH of 10 inches or more;

4. A tree having a DBH of eighteen inches or more;

5. A tree that was required by the City to be planted or retained as mitigation for the removal of a tree;

6. A tree planted or retained as a condition of any City-conferred development project approval, including approvals conferred prior to adoption of this Chapter;

7. One of six or more trees of the same species that are located on the same lot and that each have six or more inches in DBH.

For more information about Tree Removal/Pruning Permits in Fremont, visit the full article and FAQ.

Trees that require a permit for removal in Livermore are native species with a trunk circumference of 24 inches, non-native species with a circumference of 60 inches, and street trees, which are property of the city.

Examples of native species are:

1. Alder, White (Alnus rhombifolia)

2. Bay, California (Umbellularia californica)

3. Buckeye, California (Aesculus californica)

4. Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)

5. Maple, Big Leaf (Acer macrophyllum)

6. Oak, Blue (Quercus douglasii)

7. Oak, California Black (Quercus kelloggii)

8. Oak, Canyon Live (Quercus chrysolepis)

9. Oak, Coast Live (Quercus agrifolia)

10. Oak, Interior Live (Quercus wislizenii)

11. Oak, Scrub (Quercus berberidifolia)

12. Oak, Valley (Quercus lobata)

13. Pine, Grey (Pinus sabiniana)

14. Sycamore, California (Platanus racemosa)

15. Walnut, California Black (Juglans hindsii californica)

For more information, please visit Livermore’s Landscape Maintenance page.

Trees that require a permit for removal in Dublin are “Heritage trees.” Heritage trees in Dublin include trees measuring more than 24 inches diameter (75.36in circumference) at 4.5ft above ground and certain species.

The protected species are:

1. Oak

2. Bay

3. Cypress

4. Maple

5. Redwood

6. Buckeye

7. Sycamore

To learn more, please read Dublin’s Heritage Trees Ordinance, or view their FAQ

Trees that require a removal permit in the City of Pleasanton include “Heritage” trees. Heritage trees are any trees measuring 55in in circumference at 4.5ft above ground, or measuring greater than or equal to 35ft in height.

For a city-issued copy of this ordinance, visit the Tree Removal Brochure page

The protected species are:

1. Oak

2. Bay

3. Cypress

4. Maple

5. Redwood

6. Buckeye

7. Sycamore

To learn more, please read Dublin’s Heritage Trees Ordinance, or view their FAQ

Given that Castro Valley is an unincorporated community, the Alameda County Public Works Administration oversees their tree permits. The Alameda County Tree Program ensures the preservation of trees in the County’s road right-of-way. Property owners are responsible for maintaining trees that are adjacent to their property. Property owners are required to obtain tree permits for planting, trimming, pruning or removal of trees in the right-of-way.

Read more here.