General Information

A permit must be applied for before removing a protected tree. A permit is also required if work might damage or destroy a protected tree. A protected tree is Coast Live Oak four inches or larger in diameter, measured four and a half feet above the ground, or any other species nine inches in diameter or larger, except Eucalyptus and Monterey Pine trees.

Eucalyptus trees are not protected and no permit is required. Monterey Pines do not require a permit but the species must be verified by city staff prior to removal. There is no charge for Monterey Pine verification.

If a tree is hazardous and presents an immediate threat to safety or property, the permit process may be waived b the city staff prior to removal. An inspector from the Tree Section will respond to your request for a hazardous tree inspection in twenty-tour hours or less. There is no charge for this service. You must be the tree owner to request a permit waiver. You cannot ask for a permit waiver to remove your neighbor's tree.

Permit applications are taken at three locations. Development related applications are taken at the Zoning Desk, 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 2nd floor. Development is considered to be any activity regulated by the City of Oakland, and which requires design reviver or a zoning, building, grading or demolition permit. Non-development applications are taken at Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services: 1520 Lakeside Drive or 7101 Edgewater Drive. Non-development is typically a homeowner wishing to remove a tree growing in the front or back yard. City owned trees are also subject to the permit process unless they are immediate hazard.

The minimum fee for a development related application is currently $147, and for non-development, $45. Up to ten trees may be listed on an application for the minimum fee. An extra $8 per tree is charged for the 11th through 1OOth tree.

It takes a minimum of five weeks to process a permit application. The request may be approved or denied based on the criteria listed in the Protected Trees Ordinance. The tree(s) on the application are posted for twenty working days. Once a permit is approved or denied, the permit is held for a five working day appeal period. If there are no appeals, the permit is issued. If a permit is appealed, the procedures and timeframes very depending on the type of permit application.

The information on this page is a summary of the Protected Trees Ordinance, Chapter 12.36 of the Oakland Municipal Code. For a copy of the Ordinance, contact the City Clerk, 1 City Hall Plaza, (510) 238-3611 or the Tree Section at 7101 Edgewater Drive, (510) 615-5850.

Please telephone the Tree Section at (510) 615-5850 for more information about the Protected Trees Ordinance.