San Mateo County Permits

Under San Mateo’s new ‘Protected Trees Ordinance’, a permit is required to remove any “Protected Trees” in the city of San Mateo.

List of protected trees:

1. Heritage Trees

2. All Oak (Quercus spp.) trees are “Heritage” if they have a trunk diameter of 10 inches or more.

3. All other species are “Heritage” if they have a trunk diameter of 15 inches or more

4. Street Trees

5. Trees growing along or within the public right of way or a designated planting easement.

For more information, please visit the City of San Mateo’s Tree Ordinance page

The City of South San Francisco has adopted a new Tree Preservation Ordinance. A tree removal permit is required in the City of South San Francisco for removal of any “protected tree.”

List of protected trees:

1. Any tree of the following species with a circumference of 75″ or more when measured 54″ above natural grade

2. Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus)

3. Black Acacia (Acacia melanoxylon)

4. Myoporum (Myoporum laetum)

5. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

6. Glossy Privet (Lingustrum lucidum)

7. Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra)

8. Any heritage tree of the following species with a circumference of 30″ or more when measured at 54″ above natural grade

9. California Bay (Umbellaria californica)

10. Oak (Quercus spp.)

11. Cedar (Cedrus spp.)

12. California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)

13. Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus var. asplenifolius)

14. Strawberry Tree (Arbutus spp.)

15. Mayten (Maytenus boaria)

16. Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’)

17. Any tree other than the species listed above with a circumference of 48″ or more when measured 54″ above natural grade

18. A tree or stand of trees so designated based upon findings that it is unique and of importance to the public due to its unusual appearance, location, historical significance

19. A stand of trees whereby each tree is dependent upon the others for survival

For more information, please visit the City of South San Francisco’s TreesPage.

In an effort to protect the environment, the city of Mountain View regulates:

1. Trees of a specific size (trunk circumference) and species, known as Heritage trees

2. All trees located in planned developments (typically with HOA’s), multi-family complexes, and commercial/industrial properties

3. Trees located in the public right-of-way along streets, known as Street Trees, in parks, and other city-owned properties.

The removal of any of these regulated trees in Mountain View requires a tree removal permit. For more information, please visit the City of Mountain View’s Tree and Landscaping page.

• In the city of Belmont a permit is required for removal of any of the following:

  Principal Native Trees: Coast Live Oak, Valley Oak, Redwood, Madrone, Bay Laurel, or Buckeye having a single main stem or trunk of 10 inches or more diameter at 4.5 feet above grade height (DBH), or up to three of the largest secondary stems totaling 10 inches or more DBH.

  City Tree: Any woody, perennial plant, regardless of size, located in a city park, a designated open space, or on any other city property. A single or multi-stemmed shrub or bush is not a city tree.

  Large Diameter Tree: A woody, perennial plant characterized by having a single main stem or trunk of 14 inches or more DBH, or up to three of the largest secondary stems totaling 18 inches or more DBH.

  Replacement tree: Any tree, regardless of size, which has been planted as required mitigation for the previous removal of another tree at the same site or elsewhere in the city.

  Right-of-Way Tree: A tree located in a public street right-of-way.

  NOTE: The adjacent property owner is responsible for trees, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks in the right-of-way; a fence does not determine the property line. The City’s responsibility ends at the edge of roadway.