Arborist Report
A signed, photographed, ISA Certified Arborist report that cities, insurers, lenders and courts accept.
Who this is for
- Tree removal permit applications
- Hazard and dead-tree permits
- Insurance claims after storm damage or failure
- Disputes and demand letters
What you get
A signed PDF report. It states species and measurements taken the way the city's code requires, health and structural findings, and photographs. Where it matters, it gives a risk rating. The recommendation is written as the justification the city's code names, so staff can approve it without asking for more.
Turnaround and price
7 to 10 business days after the site visit.
$750 to $1,250 for one to three trees, including the site visit, the findings the city requires and the replacement plan. Multi-parcel and development reports from $1,650. Responses to city comments $350 per round (prices as of October 9, 2026). The price is confirmed before the visit; there is no charge for a phone call to decide whether you need this at all.
How this fits the city's rules
Sixteen of the 45 cities require a report with every private-tree removal application and twenty-three more ask for one in specific situations. The report is written to the city's checklist, not a generic template.
Sixteen cities always require a report: East Palo Alto, Hillsborough, Los Altos, Menlo Park, Mill Valley, Milpitas, Orinda, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Pleasant Hill, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Mateo County (unincorporated), Santa Clara, Sausalito. Reports are also written for cities that ask only in specific situations (San Jose among them) and for cities with no formal rule, where a report still settles hazard and dispute questions: San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley. Every city's rule: report requirements for all 35.
Request an arborist report
Questions
Will the city accept it?
The report follows the city's own submittal checklist and is signed by an ISA Certified Arborist. Menlo Park accepts only arborists on its approved list and Hillsborough uses a mandatory template; we write to both.
Do you need to visit the tree?
Yes. Every report is based on a site visit with measurements taken at the height the city's code specifies.
How fast can I get one?
Standard turnaround is 7 to 10 business days after the site visit. A 48-hour turnaround is available for most single-tree reports at a surcharge agreed in advance.