Arborist Report for a San Bruno Tree Permit
San Bruno requires an arborist report with every private-tree removal application. We write reports to San Bruno's checklist, measured as SBMC Ch. 8.25 Heritage Trees specifies.
What San Bruno requires
Required. Every heritage tree removal or pruning permit in practice: the city's Trees on Private Property page says 'You will need to submit a certified arborist report to us by email' listing why the tree needs pruning or removal, the diameter at 54 inches above natural grade, the cost estimate of the work on the report, and a current picture; removal requests must also state the replacement species/size or the in-lieu election. The code itself is permissive: 'The applicant may be required to submit an arborist's report with the permit application to show cause for removal' (8.25.040(A)).
Who may write it: 'Certified arborist report' (city page). Ch. 8.25 does not define 'arborist' or 'certified arborist'; 8.25.060(A) refers to best management practices 'recommended by a certified arborist'.. None found on the city page or in Ch. 8.25.
“Any person desiring to remove or prune one or more heritage trees must contact the Community Services Department for a permit. You will need to submit a certified arborist report to us by email that includes the following information: Why does the tree need to be pruned or removed; The diameter of the tree at fifty-four inches above natural grade; The cost estimate of the work listed on the arborist report; A current picture of the tree” city department page
The rule the report has to address
| Protected trees | Heritage trees: native bay (Umbellularia californica), buckeye (Aesculus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) or Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) 6" diameter or more; any other species 10" diameter or more; Council-designated trees or stands and stands of interdependent trees at any size. Applies to all trees on public or private property except street trees (Ch. 8.24). Blue gum eucalyptus is not exempt, but the director may waive the chapter's other conditions when permitting its removal (8.25.040(D)). |
|---|---|
| Size threshold | 6" diameter (native bay, buckeye, oak, redwood, Monterey pine) / 10" diameter (any other species), measured at 54" above natural grade |
| Dead or hazardous trees | No dead-tree exemption; permit required unless 'in the case of an emergency when a tree poses an imminent hazard or danger to life or property, it may be pruned or removed by order of any member of the police, fire or public works department' (8.25.030); applications 'based on hazard or danger of disease' get priority (8.25.040(C)); franchised utilities may remove interfering trees |
| Permit fee | $181 Tree Removal Permit; $91 Tree Pruning Permit; $533 refundable replacement deposit per tree removed (one 24" box or two 15-gallon trees); $632 Tree Non-Replacement (in-lieu) Fee per tree removed |
| Penalty for removal without a permit | Misdemeanor (city attorney may prosecute as an infraction), each day a separate offense (8.25.090); trees removed without a valid permit must be replaced at double the normal quantity (8.25.050(C)), i.e. four 15-gallon or two 24" box trees per tree, or payment of equal value to the city tree planting fund where replanting is infeasible (8.25.050(D)); pruning beyond permit conditions is deemed a removal (8.25.020) |
| Department | Community Services Department, Parks Division (Parks Manager and Community Services Director review; director of community services decides). Submit the certified arborist report by email (adillon@sanbruno.ca.gov per the city page). Parks office 1125 Crystal Springs Rd; mailing 567 El Camino Real, San Bruno 94066. |
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 San Bruno that means measurements taken in diameter at 54″ 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. Reports are delivered 7 to 10 business days after the site visit; responses to San Bruno comments are $350 per round unless the proposal includes one. Fees are confirmed in writing before the visit.
Full city rules: Tree permits in San Bruno. Not sure the tree is protected? Run the permit checker.
Request a San Bruno arborist report
Questions about San Bruno reports
Does San Bruno accept a report from any arborist?
'Certified arborist report' (city page). Ch. 8.25 does not define 'arborist' or 'certified arborist'; 8.25.060(A) refers to best management practices 'recommended by a certified arborist'. None found on the city page or in Ch. 8.25.
What if my tree is dead or dangerous?
No dead-tree exemption; permit required unless 'in the case of an emergency when a tree poses an imminent hazard or danger to life or property, it may be pruned or removed by order of any member of the police, fire or public works department' (8.25.030); applications 'based on hazard or danger of disease' get priority (8.25.040(C)); franchised utilities may remove interfering trees
How much is the San Bruno permit itself?
$181 Tree Removal Permit; $91 Tree Pruning Permit; $533 refundable replacement deposit per tree removed (one 24" box or two 15-gallon trees); $632 Tree Non-Replacement (in-lieu) Fee per tree removed The report fee is separate.