Most of the tree protection plans I write are for projects that did not know they needed one until plan check bounced the set. The rule that triggers the plan is different in nearly every Bay Area city: a radius of 10 times the trunk diameter in Palo Alto and Menlo Park, 50 feet in Pacifica, the dripline in San Francisco, a discretionary call in Burlingame. This page puts the triggers, authors, fencing specs, inspections and fees side by side, from each city's code and handouts.
Key Takeaways
- Five Peninsula cities use the same trigger: any work within a radius of 10 times the trunk diameter of a protected tree requires a plan before a grading or construction permit (Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, San Carlos, San Mateo).
- Others use a fixed distance or the dripline. Pacifica requires a plan for new construction within 50 feet of a protected or heritage tree. San Francisco, Danville, Walnut Creek and Mountain View key off the dripline.
- The fence spec is nearly universal: 6-foot chain link on 2-inch galvanized posts driven 2 feet deep at no more than 10-foot spacing, installed before demolition or grading, with warning signs.
- Several cities inspect the fence before issuing the permit (Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, San Mateo, Los Gatos, Lafayette, Danville), and two require monthly arborist inspections during construction (Palo Alto, Atherton).
- Published review fees are rare: San Carlos $750 or $1,250, San Francisco $209. Most cities fold the review into the permit or bill arborist time.
What Triggers a Tree Protection Plan
A tree protection plan (some cities say tree preservation plan; it is the same document) is a plan sheet and report that shows every protected tree the project could affect, draws the tree protection zone around each one, and specifies fencing, trenching, grading and monitoring rules for the construction phase. What triggers it falls into four patterns.
1. Work inside a 10-times-diameter zone. Palo Alto defines the tree protection zone as a radius of 10 times the trunk diameter measured at 4.5 feet, and its T-1 sheet states that for projects "with Activity or Grading Within the TPZ of a Protected Tree, A Tree Preservation Report is required and must be included in the T-1 set." A tree disclosure statement goes in with every application that includes exterior work, demolition or grading, covering trees within 30 feet of the work. Menlo Park's code is the same geometry: any work within 10 times the diameter of a heritage tree requires a plan "for review and approval by the public works director prior to issuance of any permit for grading or construction" (MPMC 13.24.030(c)). San Carlos copied the wording for protected trees "on any property or in the public right-of-way" (SCMC 18.18.070(D)(5)). San Mateo requires one for construction activity within the same radius (SMMC 13.40.080(b)). Atherton shows trees at 10 times the diameter on the plan and fences them at 8 times (Atherton Building Department).
2. A fixed distance. Pacifica's rule is the plainest in the region: plans "are required when engaging in new construction within fifty (50') feet of a protected or heritage tree" (Pacifica Public Works; PMC 4-12.11). Lafayette's Category II tree permit requires a site plan of protected trees within 50 feet of construction, with a protection zone of 2 feet for every inch of trunk diameter (LMC 6-1707, 6-1702). Oakland's development permit requires a survey of protected trees within 30 feet and a permit for trees within 10 feet of the footprint or earthwork (OMC 12.36.070).
3. The dripline. San Francisco's Public Works Code 808(c) requires a plan before the Department of Building Inspection issues a permit for any project "that may damage one or more Street Trees, Significant Trees, and/or Landmark Trees," and the Bureau of Urban Forestry's trigger list is grading, excavation, staging or storage within the dripline of a significant or street tree, any pruning, or any project on a lot with a landmark tree. Danville requires dripline fencing inspected by the Town before a building or grading permit for any project within the dripline of a protected tree (DMC 32-79.11, 32-79.12). Mountain View requires a permit for "construction of improvements within the drip line of a heritage tree" (MVCC 32.27). Walnut Creek requires an arborist report with a tree survey plan for development applications and fences every tree within the construction limits at the dripline (WCMC 3-8.04, 3-8.05).
4. Discretionary. Burlingame's director "may require" a project arborist and a tree protection plan (BMC 11.06.060(b)). Belmont's decision-maker may require "Standard Tree Protection Measures" for development entitlements. Tiburon attaches protective fencing as a permit condition (TMC 15A-7(b)). Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and Pleasant Hill tie the plan to discretionary approvals rather than a distance. In these cities the plan is still required in practice for most projects near a protected tree; it is just not automatic.
Who May Write It
Nearly every city that names a credential says ISA Certified Arborist. The exceptions matter:
- City-approved list only. Menlo Park requires the plan and the arborist report to come from a city-approved consulting arborist, and "City-approved arborists include only the named arborist on the list, not the company." The project arborist must be approved before any permit issues.
- Designated or project arborist. Palo Alto's T-1 sheet requires a certified arborist to complete and sign the tree disclosure statement, and the owner or contractor must hire a designated project arborist for the pre-construction meeting and for any grading or trenching within 10 feet of a protection zone. Atherton, San Mateo, Los Gatos and Hayward also name a project arborist who must be on site for root and grading work.
- Broader credentials. Pacifica accepts "a qualified arborist, horticulturist, landscape architect, or other qualified person" on its page, with ISA certification, ASCA membership or equivalent in the code. Cupertino accepts a licensed landscape architect or an ISA-certified arborist (CMC 14.18.210). Fremont wants the tree survey from a civil engineer or landscape architect, with an arborist report when the city's landscape architect requires it (FMC 18.215.120). Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill accept a registered consulting arborist, board certified master arborist or certified arborist.
- No author named. Oakland's protection measures are set by the city's Tree Reviewer at the permit stage, and the code does not require an arborist-written plan. Los Altos sets a fencing standard in code (LAMC 11.08.140) but makes the arborist report discretionary.
Fencing and Inspection Requirements
The standard fence. Atherton's spec is typical and is printed on its building page: "6 feet high, minimum 12-gauge chain link fence" on "2-inch diameter galvanized iron posts, driven into the ground to a depth of at least 2 feet at no more than 10 feet spacing," and "this detail shall appear on grading, demolition and building permit plans." Menlo Park, San Mateo and Los Gatos use the same post and spacing language, with Menlo Park specifying 8-foot posts. San Carlos and Pacifica allow 5 to 6 feet. Palo Alto specifies 6-foot chain link per its Standard Detail 605 and two covered warning signs at each tree. Cupertino and Walnut Creek require a 6-foot fence at the dripline. Sunnyvale and Santa Clara set a 4-foot minimum of open material so the trunk stays visible; Los Altos sets 5 feet.
Fencing before anything else. Every one of these cities requires the fence up before demolition, grading or excavation begins. Lafayette states that "the director shall inspect and approve the fencing and its location before the issuance of a development permit." Danville's Town inspects and approves the fencing before a building or grading permit. Menlo Park requires the project arborist to install the fence before any equipment arrives and submit a verification letter, then the City Arborist inspects before the demolition or building permit issues. Palo Alto's T-1 sheet makes the contractor call Urban Forestry for a "Tree Protection Verification Inspection" before any site work, pass or fail depending on layout and sign placement. San Mateo requires the project arborist's photo report before permit issuance. Los Gatos wants labeled photographs of the installed fence emailed to the planner before permits.
Monitoring during construction. Palo Alto requires monthly inspections by the project arborist with a summary submitted the first week of each month. Atherton requires monthly inspections and a written quarterly report for full-site developments and large remodels, due February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, and staff can revert the project to monthly reports if problems appear. Saratoga requires at least 3 scheduled inspections by an ISA Certified Arborist: before grading, after rough grading or trenching, and at completion (SMC 15-50.140(f)). Walnut Creek requires inspection before backfilling any trench near a tree and a final arborist report before the certificate of occupancy. Menlo Park requires a final City Arborist inspection before the fence comes down.
Security. Pacifica requires a performance security of 50 percent of the value of the affected tree before an encroachment permit, returned 2 years after final inspection. Los Gatos bonds $5,000 per preserved tree up to $25,000. Saratoga takes a deposit of 25 percent of value and a maintenance bond of at least 5 years. Hayward bonds the appraised value of retained trees before the grading or building permit.
Fees Where Published
Few cities publish a separate plan review fee. San Carlos charges $750 for a plan covering 5 or fewer trees and $1,250 for 6 or more, plus $200 per hour where additional arborist review is needed (FY 2026-27 Planning fee schedule). San Francisco's code sets a $151 base fee that the FY 2026-27 Bureau of Urban Forestry schedule indexes to $209 per application, with ADUs under 750 square feet exempt. Pacifica charges $264 for a tree permit not tied to a building permit (July 1, 2026 schedule). Everywhere else the review is inside the development permit, billed as staff time, or recovered through a peer-review deposit (Los Gatos, Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, Campbell). The plan itself is the larger cost; see what a tree protection plan costs and includes.
City-by-City Table
The 45 cities in my ordinance table plus Pacifica. "Code (mirror)" means the code text was read on a third-party code mirror because the city's official host blocked automated access on the research date; the section numbers are as codified, but confirm them on the city's code site before relying on them. "Not verified" means I could not read a controlling source.
| City | Plan required? | Trigger | Author | Fencing and inspections | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atherton | Yes (town arborist may require; standards apply to every development project) | Any demolition, grading, drainage, building or landscape permit; heritage trees on site, within 15 ft of the line, or street trees within 30 ft | Certified arborist; project arborist on site | 6-ft 12-gauge chain link at 8x diameter, 2-in posts 2 ft deep, 10-ft spacing; project arborist verifies in writing before permit; monthly inspections, quarterly reports | Not published | Town page, Standards 2023; AMC 8.10.030(B) |
| Belmont | Conditional | Work within the dripline of a protected tree, as a condition of development entitlements | ASCA registered or ISA certified | Standard tree protection measures schedule kept by City Manager; stop-work authority | Not published | BCC 25-3, 25-9 (mirror); city permit page in matrix |
| Berkeley | No code plan | Coast live oak rules (BMC 6.52) and street tree permits (12.44) only; conditions may be set in zoning review | Not specified | None in code | Not applicable | City page |
| Burlingame | Conditional | Director may require a project arborist and plan for development projects; no distance trigger | Certified arborist; project arborist | TPZ is a fenced enclosure unless city arborist directs otherwise; plan includes monitoring schedule | Not published | BMC 11.06.020, 11.06.060(b) (mirror; matrix) |
| Campbell | No explicit plan | Trenching, excavating or paving within the dripline counts as removal; critical root zone 1 ft per inch of diameter | ISA or ASCA, selected by director, only when condition is not evident | Fencing set as project conditions | Report at contract cost plus 20% | City checklist; CMC 21.32 (mirror) |
| Cupertino | Yes | Before any demolition, grading or building permit; director may waive minor work outside the dripline | Licensed landscape architect or ISA-certified arborist | 6-ft fence at the dripline before excavation; rules posted on fence; bond | Not published | City page; CMC 14.18.210 (mirror) |
| Danville | Yes when within the dripline | Minor or major project within the dripline of a protected tree | Certified arborist for appraisal; report when Town requires | Dripline fencing per plans; Town inspects before building or grading permit; per-tree security | By resolution | Town handout; DMC 32-79.11, .12 (mirror) |
| Foster City | Not verified | No tree protection chapter located | Not verified | |||
| Fremont | Yes, inside the development application | Tree survey with protective measures and protection zones for any protected tree remaining during grading or construction | Civil engineer or landscape architect; arborist report when the city requires | City may require the zone fenced; city standard fence detail; inspection costs on applicant | Not in code | FMC 18.215.120 |
| Hayward | Yes (Art. 15, 2025) | Plan in all plan sets including grading and building permit plans; TPZ is dripline plus 1 ft | Certified Arborist supervises all root and grade work in the zone | Non-movable chain link around TPZ before equipment arrives, verified by arborist; bond on appraised value | Removal permit $498 (2 trees) to $1,245 (6 to 8); no separate plan fee | City ordinance page; HMC 10-15.18 |
| Hillsborough | Subdivisions only | Subdivider submits plan and sets TPZ (5 ft beyond dripline or 15 ft from trunk) before site development | Certified arborist | Protective fencing and signage; plan on all construction documents | Based on valuation | HMC 14.04.020, .030(H) (mirror) |
| Lafayette | Yes (Category II permit) | Construction that may destroy, remove or extensively prune a protected tree; site plan of trees within 50 ft; TPZ 2 ft per inch of diameter | ISA certified or ASCA registered | Fence at TPZ per city spec; director inspects and approves fencing before the permit; arborist observation and report | By resolution; applicant pays peer review | LMC Ch. 6-17 (city PDF) |
| Los Altos | Fencing standard, no plan mandate | Construction near a protected tree | Arborist report discretionary | Fence no closer than the dripline, 5 ft minimum, open material, until construction ends; no storage inside | Not published | City page; LAMC 11.08.140 (mirror) |
| Los Gatos | Yes | Any time the canopy of a protected tree extends into or near the project; tree survey before any development application | ISA Certified or ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist; project arborist | 6-ft chain link on 2-in posts 2 ft deep, 10-ft spacing, before permits; photos to planner; $5,000 bond per tree (cap $25,000) | Town fee schedule; arborist deposit | Town handout; TC 29.10.1000, .1005 |
| Menlo Park | Yes | Any work within 10x trunk diameter of a heritage tree or city street tree; removal as part of development; 4 or more trees | City-approved consulting arborist (named individual); project arborist approved before permits | 6-ft chain link on 8-ft 2-in posts 2 ft deep, 10-ft spacing, before equipment arrives; arborist letter then City Arborist inspection before demo or building permit; final inspection before fence removal | Set by council (2026 Master Fee Schedule) | City page, Large Projects requirements; MPMC 13.24.030(c) |
| Mill Valley | No code plan | Site plan of trees within 30 ft of construction may be required; arborist report by city-selected arborist with proposed protection measures | ISA certified arborist | None in code | Report at applicant cost | MVMC 20.67.040 (mirror); matrix |
| Milpitas | No code plan | Trenching or grade change around the trunk counts as removal | ISA-certified arborist for valuation | None in code | Not published | MMC X-2 (mirror) |
| Mountain View | Conditional (permit) | Construction of improvements within the dripline of a heritage tree | Arborist's report may be required | Director may require construction fencing; no cut or fill within 4 ft of the base without an approved report | Not published | MVCC 32.25, 32.27 (mirror); Tree Technical Manual not readable |
| Oakland | Conditional (permit conditions) | Development permit; survey of protected trees within 30 ft; permit for trees within 10 ft of footprint or earthwork | Not required; measures set by the Tree Reviewer | Every endangered protected tree fenced before clearing or excavation at a distance the Tree Reviewer sets; fences stay for the duration | Master Fee Schedule | OMC 12.36.060, .070 |
| Orinda | Conditional | Heritage trees when the City Council requires; protected perimeter is dripline plus 10 ft | Professional arborist supervises trenching and pruning | Fence every heritage tree at the protected perimeter before starting | By resolution | OMC 17.24.4(F) (mirror) |
| Pacifica | Yes | New construction within 50 ft of a protected or heritage tree; also discretionary development proposals | Qualified arborist, horticulturist, landscape architect or other qualified person; ISA, ASCA or equivalent in code | 5 to 6 ft chain link on 2-in posts 2 ft deep, 10-ft spacing, around the whole TPZ before demolition, grading or paving; warning sign; damage reported within 12 hours; 50% security | $264 tree permit (not tied to building permit), July 1, 2026 | City page; PMC 4-12.11 |
| Palo Alto | Yes | Tree disclosure statement with every exterior, demolition or grading application; Tree Preservation Report for activity or grading within the TPZ (10x diameter or 10 ft, whichever is greater) | Certified arborist signs the disclosure; ISA certified arborist writes the report; designated project arborist | 6-ft chain link per Standard Detail 605 with 2 signs per tree before any site work; Urban Forestry fence verification inspection; monthly project arborist inspections; street tree protection inspection | Tree report fee per municipal fee schedule (amount not located) | T-1 sheet, Development Process page; PAMC 8.10.040, .070 |
| Piedmont | No code plan | Private tree chapter covers hazardous removal and view arbitration only | Not specified | None in code | Not applicable | City Code Ch. 3 |
| Pleasant Hill | Yes for discretionary entitlements | Entitlements that remove protected trees; single-family projects excluded unless the zoning administrator requires measures | Certified arborist, board certified master arborist or registered consulting arborist | Protective fencing, staking and signage on grading and construction documents; security before grading permit | Peer review at applicant cost | PHMC 18.100.050, .060 (mirror) |
| Redwood City | Subdivisions only | Subdivider protects trees by fencing or similar means | Not specified | None specified | Not applicable | RCMC 35.6 (mirror) |
| San Carlos | Yes | Any construction activity within 10x diameter of a protected tree on any property or in the right-of-way; exempt if none within 30 ft of footprint | ISA-certified arborist | 5 to 6 ft chain link on 8-ft 2-in posts 2 ft deep, 10-ft spacing; TPZs on all construction plans; City Arborist approval before grading or construction permit | $750 (5 or fewer trees), $1,250 (6 or more); $200/hr added review | SCMC 18.18.070(D)(5), TPP Checklist |
| San Francisco | Yes | Any project that may damage a street, significant or landmark tree; work within the dripline; any lot with a landmark tree | Certified arborist, with replacement-cost estimate of every tree in the plan | Plan on site plans showing dripline, height and diameters; report may be required for excavation within 5 ft of a tree over 5 in DBH; stop work for failure | $209 review (FY 2026-27); code base $151 | PWC 808(c), BUF Tree Protection |
| San Jose | Yes (inventory plus protection conditions) | Before any permit for improvements, all trees on the site inventoried on a topographic map | Certified arborist report when the director requires; fencing per the arborist | No equipment or materials within the dripline; fencing outside the canopy to the dripline; cut and fill near the base only after consulting the city arborist | Not captured | SJMC 13.32.130 |
| San Mateo | Yes | Construction activity within 10x trunk diameter at 54 in; signed statement on trees within 30 ft of work | Certified arborist (project arborist) | 6-ft chain link on 2-in posts 2 ft deep, 10-ft spacing; project arborist photo report before permit; on site for work within the dripline; report after each inspection | Not captured | SMMC 13.40.080, Administrative Guidelines |
| San Rafael | No code plan | Street trees: guards around nearby trees during work in the right-of-way; hillside overlay protects significant trees through design review | Not specified | Guards for street trees only | Not applicable | SRMC 11.12.060 (mirror) |
| Santa Clara | Yes for discretionary projects (not single-family R1) | Development requiring a public hearing; tree survey and written protection plans | ISA-certified arborist | Fence no closer than the dripline, 4-ft minimum, open material so the trunk stays visible; ANSI A300 | Where applicable | SCCC 12.35.100 (official host redirects to ecode360) |
| Saratoga | Yes for discretionary approvals | Any project approved under the zoning, subdivision or building chapters; no grading permit until the plan is approved | Arborist report required; ISA Certified Arborist inspects | Measures stay for the whole project; at least 3 inspections (before grading, after rough grading or trenching, at completion); 25% deposit and 5-year maintenance bond | City fee schedule | SMC 15-50.130, .140 (mirror) |
| Sunnyvale | Yes for discretionary projects | Tree survey and protection plan with the development application | ISA-certified arborist for the survey | Fence no closer than the dripline, 4-ft minimum, open material; staff inspections and stop work; bond up to 5 years | Per Ch. 19.98 | SMC 19.94.110, .120 |
| Tiburon | Conditional | Permit conditions may include protective fencing and dripline limits | Certified arborist report when the director requires | Fencing as a condition; director inspects within 15 days | By resolution | TMC 15A-5, 15A-7 (mirror; matrix) |
| Walnut Creek | Yes (arborist report and fencing) | Development applications: arborist report with tree survey plan showing every dripline | Registered consulting arborist, board certified master arborist or certified arborist retained by the developer | 6-ft chain link at the dripline of every tree within the construction limits with sign; inspection before backfilling; final arborist report before certificate of occupancy | Not in code | WCMC 3-8.04, 3-8.05, 3-8.07 (mirror; official host moved to ecode360) |
| Woodside | Conditional (code measures) | Any site development near a significant tree | Certified arborist supervises work inside the fence | Fence at the dripline before any work; hand trenching; no grading within 4 ft of the base; signs | Special studies billed time and materials plus 25% (July 1, 2026 schedule) | Town form; WMC 153.437 (mirror) |
Getting Through Plan Check
The projects that clear plan check on the first pass share three habits. The arborist is hired before the architect finalizes the footprint, so the protection zones shape the design instead of fighting it. The plan is drawn to the city's definition of the zone, not a generic rule of thumb, and it cites the section the city will check it against. And the fence goes up, gets photographed and gets inspected before the first truck arrives, because that inspection is a permit condition in most of the cities above.
If you are planning a remodel, addition or ADU near a protected tree, start with my remodel tree checklist to see what your city will ask for, then read what a tree protection plan includes and costs. For the broader design and construction picture, see tree preservation plans for Bay Area developers.
Questions I Get Asked
Does an ADU or a small addition need a tree protection plan?
In the 10-times-diameter cities, yes, if any part of the work (including trenching for utilities) falls inside the zone of a protected tree. Palo Alto allows an applicant to complete the disclosure statement without an arborist for ADU-only projects, but the protection requirements still apply. San Francisco exempts ADUs under 750 square feet from its $209 review fee, not from protecting the tree.
Can my contractor's tree service write the plan?
Only if the author meets the city's credential. Menlo Park accepts only named arborists on its approved list. Palo Alto, San Carlos, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale require an ISA Certified Arborist. Los Gatos and Lafayette accept ISA or ASCA. A tree service estimate is not a plan, and a plan signed by someone who does not meet the standard is returned.
How big is a tree protection zone?
Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Carlos and San Mateo use a radius of 10 times the trunk diameter (a 24-inch trunk gives a 20-foot radius), and Palo Alto applies 10 feet as a minimum. Lafayette uses 2 feet per inch of diameter. Pacifica uses 1.5 times the diameter for trunks up to 24 inches and 2 times above that. Hayward uses the dripline plus 1 foot; Orinda the dripline plus 10 feet; Hillsborough 5 feet beyond the dripline or 15 feet from the trunk. Several cities simply use the dripline.
When does the fence have to be up?
Before demolition, grading or excavation in every city that specifies fencing, and before any equipment arrives in Menlo Park and Hayward. Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, San Mateo, Los Gatos, Lafayette and Danville require the fence to be inspected or verified before the permit issues, so the fence is a precondition of the permit, not a day-one task.
What happens if a protected tree is damaged during construction?
Report it. Pacifica requires notice within 12 hours, Atherton within 6 hours, and San Mateo requires notice to the Building Official and Managing Arborist. Most cities can stop work and hold the certificate of occupancy until a mitigation plan is approved, and the penalties for a tree that dies are the same as for an unpermitted removal. See penalties by city.
Related Reading
- Tree Protection Plan service: what the plan includes, turnaround and cost
- Remodel Tree Checklist: what to settle before you submit
- Tree Preservation Plans for Bay Area Developers: design-phase strategy and costs
- Arborist Report Requirements by City: who may write the report in each city
ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A · Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
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