Arborist Report for a Larkspur Tree Permit
Larkspur requires an arborist report with every private-tree removal application. We write reports to Larkspur's checklist, measured as LMC Ch. 12.16 Trees, Including Heritage Trees specifies.
What Larkspur requires
Required. Every heritage tree removal permit unless the City Manager exempts it: 12.16.070(E) 'A report and recommendation from a qualified arborist shall be provided unless exempted by the City Manager.' The city page lists as a submittal requirement 'Central Marin Fire inspection report (for fire hazard trees) or a qualified arborist report (arborist certified by and in good standing with the International Society of Arboriculture) - contact staff for exceptions', so a fire-hazard tree can be supported by the fire inspection report instead. Diseased oaks: a qualified arborist report substantiating Sudden Oak Death is mandatory (12.16.070(M)). The City may also require the applicant to pay a City Arborist to monitor permitted work.
Who may write it: 'Qualified arborist' means any arborist certified by and in good standing with the International Society of Arboriculture (12.16.010). The City Manager's designee 'may not be affiliated with any tree company involved in the project' (12.16.010).. None. 'City Arborist' means any qualified arborist chosen by the City (12.16.010); the City's consulting arborist inspects, the applicant's own ISA-certified arborist writes the report.
“A report and recommendation from a qualified arborist shall be provided unless exempted by the City Manager.” municipal code
The rule the report has to address
| Protected trees | Any species: 'heritage tree' = any live tree with a trunk circumference of 50 inches or more measured at 24 inches above natural grade (or above the highest grade, whichever gives the greater circumference), plus any tree or grove designated by City Council action. Multi-trunk: add the circumference of every trunk. 'Fire-prone trees' (acacia over 50 ft, arborvitae, California bay, bishop pine, cedars, Coulter pine, cypress, Douglas fir, blue gum and red gum eucalyptus, false cypress, gray pine, junipers, knobcone pine, larch, Monterey pine, Scots pine, spruces, Torrey pine, yew) still need the permit but get a fee-waived, no-notice permit once the Fire Code Official verifies a fire hazard. Trees under 50 inches circumference need no permit unless in the public right-of-way. |
|---|---|
| Size threshold | 50" circumference (any species) at 24" above natural grade |
| Dead or hazardous trees | No dead-tree exemption in the code, but the city page says 'no fee for hazard or dead trees' and no neighbor notice is mailed for dead or fire-hazard trees. Immediate hazard: 'When a tree poses an immediate hazard or is dangerous to life or property, it may be authorized to be removed without a permit by order of the City Manager or other responsible City official' (12.16.070(B)); the city page names the City Manager, Fire or Police and gives a Central Marin Fire contact. Sudden Oak Death oaks: staff issue the permit on a qualified arborist report plus site inspection, no notice or hearing (12.16.070(M)). |
| Permit fee | Heritage Tree Removal Permit - Administrative: $239 flat fee (FY 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026); $234 in FY 2025-26 (the Planning Department's Tree Removal Permits page still quotes '$234 (2025-26) Fee (no fee for hazard or dead trees)'). Fee waived for emergency removals (immediate hazard per the City Manager) and for pyrophytic trees required for removal by the Fire Department (schedule note [b]); heritage tree removal with a Planning Commission entitlement is a $459 add-on entitlement, waived when required by the Fire Department for vegetation management (note [c]). Appeals: to the Planning Commission or of a City Manager decision to Council $1,000 applicant / $750 non-applicant. |
| Penalty for removal without a permit | Unlawful removal, destruction or damage of a heritage tree: penalty equal to twice the appraised value of the tree (City Arborist appraisal per the Guide for Plant Appraisal) plus the City's appraisal costs; mandatory replacement with the same species in a size and location set by the City Manager; violation is a public nuisance (9.24.030) and a misdemeanor (10.76.010); civil action with recovery of the City's investigation, trial, overhead and attorney costs (12.16.080) |
| Department | Planning Division, Community Development Department, 400 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur 94939; (415) 927-5038, planning@cityoflarkspur.org; applications filed on eTRAKiT; City Manager (or designee) decides administrative permits, Planning Commission decides removals tied to construction and protested permits; Code Enforcement (415) 927-5125; Central Marin Fire verifies fire-prone trees |
What the report contains
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. For Larkspur that means measurements taken in circumference at 24″ above grade, the species identified against the city's protected list, the condition and structural findings, and the removal justification the code names, with replacement proposed as the code requires.
Price and turnaround
$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. Permit filing with the report $600. Reports are delivered 7 to 10 business days after the site visit; responses to Larkspur comments are $350 per round unless the proposal includes one. Fees are confirmed in writing before the visit.
Full city rules: Tree permits in Larkspur. Not sure the tree is protected? Run the permit checker.
Request a Larkspur arborist report
Questions about Larkspur reports
Does Larkspur accept a report from any arborist?
'Qualified arborist' means any arborist certified by and in good standing with the International Society of Arboriculture (12.16.010). The City Manager's designee 'may not be affiliated with any tree company involved in the project' (12.16.010). None. 'City Arborist' means any qualified arborist chosen by the City (12.16.010); the City's consulting arborist inspects, the applicant's own ISA-certified arborist writes the report.
What if my tree is dead or dangerous?
No dead-tree exemption in the code, but the city page says 'no fee for hazard or dead trees' and no neighbor notice is mailed for dead or fire-hazard trees. Immediate hazard: 'When a tree poses an immediate hazard or is dangerous to life or property, it may be authorized to be removed without a permit by order of the City Manager or other responsible City official' (12.16.070(B)); the city page names the City Manager, Fire or Police and gives a Central Marin Fire contact. Sudden Oak Death oaks: staff issue the permit on a qualified arborist report plus site inspection, no notice or hearing (12.16.070(M)).
How much is the Larkspur permit itself?
Heritage Tree Removal Permit - Administrative: $239 flat fee (FY 2026-27, effective July 1, 2026); $234 in FY 2025-26 (the Planning Department's Tree Removal Permits page still quotes '$234 (2025-26) Fee (no fee for hazard or dead trees)'). Fee waived for emergency removals (immediate hazard per the City Manager) and for pyrophytic trees required for removal by the Fire Department (schedule note [b]); heritage tree removal with a Planning Commission entitlement is a $459 add-on entitlement, waived when required by the Fire Department for vegetation management (note [c]). Appeals: to the Planning Commission or of a City Manager decision to Council $1,000 applicant / $750 non-applicant. The report fee is separate.