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Limbwright Tree Removal Services
Large tree with a tire swing in a fenced backyard

Palo Alto, California

Tree Removal and Tree Service in Palo Alto

Palo Alto's 2022 tree ordinance update roughly tripled the number of private trees it protects. Coast live oaks, valley oaks and several other natives are protected from 11.5 inches in diameter, coast redwoods from 18 inches, and most other trees from 15 inches.

Call (844) 955-1716
County
Santa Clara
Tree rules
Palo Alto Municipal Code Title 8, Chapter 8.10, Tree Preservation and Management
Key local rule
Protected trees: native oaks and listed species at 11.5 inches, coast redwood at 18, most others at 15
Electric utility
City of Palo Alto Utilities
Main hazards
Drought stress, winter storms, oak root fungus, redwood decline in heat

Protected sizes under the 2022 ordinance

Diameter is measured at breast height, 54 inches above grade.

TreeProtected fromNotes
Coast live oak11.5 inchesUnchanged by the 2022 update
Valley oak11.5 inchesUnchanged by the 2022 update
Blue oak, California black oak11.5 inchesAdded in 2022
Bigleaf maple, incense cedar11.5 inchesAdded in 2022
Coast redwood18 inchesUnchanged
Most other trees15 inchesDown from 36 inches before 2022

City analysis estimated the change raised protected private trees from about 82,000 to about 224,000. Confirm current rules with the city before work.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Palo Alto?

If the tree meets one of the protected sizes, yes. Since the 2022 revision, that includes most trees on a residential lot with trunks 15 inches or more across, not only oaks and redwoods. The city's Urban Forestry section in Public Works reviews private tree removal permits.

Below the threshold
No removal permit needed.
At or above it
Permit required, often with an arborist report and replacement planting.
Street trees
City trees, cared for by Public Works Urban Forestry.

The 2022 update and how it came about

The City Council approved the first major revision of the tree ordinance in more than 20 years in June 2022 by a 5 to 2 vote. The main change was dropping the general protection size for most species from 36 inches to 15 inches, and adding four native species to the 11.5-inch list.

Supporters argued the city was losing large private trees to redevelopment. The new rules also changed replacement requirements for removed protected trees. Applications and the current text of Title 8 are on the city's Urban Forestry pages.

Trees that define Palo Alto yards

Live oak limbs arching over a walkway
Image for illustration.
Valley oaks
Huge, deciduous, often older than the houses around them, especially near San Francisquito Creek.
Coast live oaks
Evergreen and common in older neighborhoods. Sensitive to summer irrigation over their roots.
Coast redwoods
Planted widely in the 20th century. Many struggle in hot, dry summers inland of the fog belt.
Elms, sycamores and camphors
Common street and yard trees in Old Palo Alto and Crescent Park.
Deodar cedars and pines
Large conifers in older gardens, often beside houses.

Signs to watch on Peninsula trees

  • Brown redwood tops in late summer

    Drought stress. Deep watering in dry years helps.

  • Honey-colored mushrooms under an oak

    Oak root fungus, made worse by lawns and sprinklers under native oaks.

  • Large limbs drooping from a valley oak

    Old valley oaks shed big limbs, sometimes on still summer days.

  • Sticky leaves and black mold

    Insect honeydew, common on elms and tulip trees.

Getting a protected tree removal approved

  1. Measure and identify

    Record species and diameter at 54 inches.

  2. Get an arborist report

    A certified arborist describes the tree's condition and the reason for removal.

  3. Apply to Urban Forestry

    Submit the permit application with photos and the report.

  4. Review and conditions

    The city may approve, deny or add replacement planting requirements.

  5. Removal and replanting

    Work happens after approval, with replacements planted as required.

Palo Alto tree questions

Is a 16-inch maple protected in Palo Alto?

A bigleaf maple, a native, is protected from 11.5 inches. Most other maples fall under the general 15-inch line, so a 16-inch tree would likely be protected.

Does Palo Alto protect palms?

Check with Urban Forestry. Protection under the 2022 rules is defined by species lists and sizes, and exemptions apply to some species.

Who maintains the tree in front of my house?

If it is in the planting strip or right-of-way, the city does.

Can I prune a protected oak?

Pruning to industry standards is allowed. Severe pruning that harms a protected tree can be treated as a violation.

Peninsula and South Bay pages

Reach a tree service in Palo Alto

Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Palo Alto area, or leave your number and one will call you back.

(844) 955-1716

Call availability varies by area and time of day

Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works

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Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.

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Call availability varies by area and time of day

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