Tree Removal Permit Fees by City (Bay Area)
From free to several thousand dollars, with the fee schedule year each figure comes from. Fees changed in 18 cities after July 1, 2026.
Dataset version 2026-10-09 · 35 cities · by Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
Cities adopt fee schedules at the start of each fiscal year (July 1). Where a city publishes a deposit rather than a flat fee (Tiburon), the table says so. The figure is the city's permit fee only; an arborist report, if required, is separate.
| City | Permit fee | Schedule | Fee checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atherton | FY 2026-27: $775 first tree + $265 each addl (staff level); $7,310 Planning Commission-level; appeal $6,330 | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Belmont | $92 flat (waived for emergencies); in-lieu $611/tree | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Berkeley | No permit system exists (no fee); street-tree permits via Parks | 2026-10-09 | |
| Burlingame | FY 2026-27 Master Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2026), Trees and Parks Fees: Protected Tree Removal Application Fee - Residential $462 per application; Residential - No Public Notification $158; Commercial $779; Tree Replacement In-Lieu Fee $325 per inch of diameter at standard height; Appeal to Beautification Commission from Arborist's decision $308; Appeal to Hearing Officer $769; Noticing $158; Private Tree Emergency Work $141/hour (business hours). Was $451 / $154 / $760 in FY 25-26. The 'failure-to-replant $1,541/tree' line from the input does not appear in the FY 26-27 schedule (no 'replant' or 'failure' fee line found; replacement shortfalls are now handled by the $325/inch in-lieu fee). Note: the city FAQ page still shows stale '$439 residential and $740 commercial.' | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Campbell | FY 2027 Master Fee Schedule (eff. July 1, 2026): Tree Removal Permit - ALL, Dead Tree $0; SFR $0 (+$0 each additional tree); Non-SFR $310 (+$97 each additional tree, same permit); Pre-Qualified Consultant Report Review - Tree Removal Arborist Report $259 (1 hr staff time); In-Lieu Fee $653 per 24-inch box equivalent / $2,176 per 36-inch box equivalent; Tree-related appeal to Parks & Rec Commission $200. (Input FY26 figures were $303 / $253 / $639 / $2,130.) Fees marked [e] auto-adjust by CPI each July 1. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Cupertino | Resolution 26-047, Fees Effective July 1, 2026, Schedule C - Planning: Tree Removal Permit (no Arborist review required) First Tree $483, Each Additional Tree $190; Tree Removal Permit (Arborist review required) First Tree $884, Each Additional Tree $285; Retroactive Tree Removal $6,288 per tree; Heritage Tree Designation $481; Tree Management Plan $9,056; Technology Fee 5.80% per permit. (Input FY25-26: $465/$183; $851/$274; $6,055.) | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Danville | Input amount was unverified. Town of Danville Master Fee Schedule FY 2026/27 (Resolution 47-2026, adopted June 3, 2026; effective July 1, 2026; Development Services fees effective August 3, 2026), Development Services - Planning: Tree Removal Permit - Residential $249; Commercial $664. Fee waived per 32-79.5(b) for removals required for proximity to the residence / defensible space / fuel break per insurer or fire-agency notice, for solar access, and for dead or dying trees with sufficient evidence (permit still required). | FY 2026 | 2026-10-09 |
| Foster City | None (no permit exists) | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Fremont | FREE (18.215.110(a)(1)); only required arborist-report cost billed; city-published turnaround 2-4 weeks | 2026-10-09 | |
| Hayward | FY 2026-2027 Adopted Master Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026), Planning section item 36 'Tree Removal Permit': Annual Pruning Certification $817; Tree Removal Permit ≤2 trees $498 (fixed), 3-5 trees $996, 6-8 trees $1,245, ≥9 trees $1,000 deposit (T&M), Heritage Tree $1,000 deposit; Tree Pruning Permit ≤2 trees $249, ≥3 trees $747, Heritage Tree $498; work without permit 200% of tree permit fee. The city permit web page (last updated Dec 17, 2024) still states 'The application fee for a Tree Removal/Pruning Permit is $587.' | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Hillsborough | FY 26-27: $1,076 planning review + $218 building permit (voluntary); $287 visibly dead; $682 hazardous w/ arborist report | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Lafayette | Tree Permit Category I (not associated with development application) $350; Category II (associated with development application) $350; Tree Permit Appeal $350; hourly planning rate $175. Fee waived for dead/dying trees, fire-district notices, and other 6-1705(b) cases. Consultant/arborist peer review billed separately under Agreement to Pay for City Services. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Los Altos | FY2026-27 Fee Schedule (Effective July 1, 2026), Development Services: Tree Removal Permit First Tree $314.57; Each Additional Tree $157.28; Invasive Species (subject to verification) $0.00; In-Lieu Tree Replacement Fee $1,258.29; Consulting Arborist actual cost; Appeal $1,048.57. (Input FY25-26: $306.90 / $153.45 / $1,227.60 / appeal $1,023.) | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Los Gatos | FY 2026-27 Comprehensive Fee Schedule (effective July 1, 2026), Parks & Public Works 'Tree Related Fees': item 27 Tree Removal Permit Application One Tree $256.00; Additional Tree $128.00/each; 'If application is denied 50% refund'; fee waived if removal implements/maintains Defensible Space with supporting documentation; item 28 Illegal Tree Removal Administrative Fee $337.00; item 29 replacement trees (Town Forestry Fund) at market price plus installation. Previously $250/$125/$330. The 2025 application form (rev. June 28, 2025) also prints $256/$128; its attached FAQ text still says $250/$125 (internal inconsistency on the Town's own form). | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Menlo Park | FY 26-27: $542/tree (first 3), $270 each addl | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Mill Valley | Tree Removal: Heritage Tree - Regular $1,401 per tree; Heritage Tree - Diseased (e.g., sudden oak death) $119 per tree; Non-Heritage Tree Removal $119 per tree; Peer Review (Arborist Report) $580 per tree; Planning hourly rate $185. No Southern Marin Fire District fee on tree permits (N/A). Input said 'amount unverified'. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Milpitas | FY 2025-26 User and Regulatory Fee Schedule (Planning item 41): Tree Removal $263 (up from $256) - the figure still current as of 2026-10-09. FY 2026-27 'Schedule of User and Regulatory Fees, Effective November 2, 2026' (Planning item 45): Tree Removal $413. The FY 2026-27 Permit and Development Fee Summary (effective August 3, 2026, updated 9/4/2026) describes the Tree Removal Permit Fee as a flat fee paid at submittal but prints no amount and refers to 'Page 26 of User and Regulatory Fee Schedule'. Could not locate any schedule effective 8/3/2026 that lists $263, so the input's '$263 (adopted schedule eff. 8/3/2026)' should read: $263 per FY 2025-26 schedule; rises to $413 on 11/2/2026. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Mountain View | Urban Forestry Permit fee (effective July 1, 2026): $178 and $61 per additional tree at the same address - unchanged from input. Planning Permit fee (effective August 22, 2026): $5,409 - changed from $5,132. Appeal of a City Arborist decision $350 (to Urban Forestry Board). Timelines confirmed: Urban Forestry up to 45 days after fee payment; Planning 60 to 90 days (Administrative Zoning hearing). | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Oakland | FY 26-27 (eff. 7/1/2026): $579.06 non-development (1-10 trees); $747.81 development; + ~14.75% technology surcharge; decision within 20 working days of application (12.36.080(K)) after >=20-working-day comment period | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Orinda | Tree Removal Permit: First Tree (including Heritage Tree) $197.00; Each Additional Tree $63.00; Replacement with tree removal permit per OMC 17.21.5.F.2 $125.00/tree; Restitution for trees removed in violation $1,179.00/tree; marked '+' = 10% General Plan Update surcharge plus Permit Technology Fee surcharge apply. (Application form PDF, dated 07/2023 page, still shows the older $194/$62 + 13% surcharge.) Emergency Tree Removal Letter: no fee. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Palo Alto | FY 2027 (adopted June 15, 2026): Protected Tree Removal $481.00 per removal + Record Management Fee $181.00 per file (= $662); was $460 + $174 (= $634) in FY 2026. Also: Home Improvement Exception - Trees $601/application; 2026 in-lieu fee $1,250 per 24-inch box tree (dept page). | FY 2027 | 2026-10-09 |
| Piedmont | None (private trees) | 2026-10-09 | |
| Pleasant Hill | Tree Removal Permits $166 ($213 per hour if more than five trees); Cost Recovery Agreement required if more than five trees; Appeal to City Council $464, to Board/Commission $398. Input had no dollar figure ('Per fee schedule'). Note: fee schedule still cites 'PHMC 18.50.110' (pre-recodification section). | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Redwood City | FREE; city-published processing 'normally within ten working days' | 2026-10-09 | |
| San Carlos | $100 dead tree; $500 risk/health/species/utility; $500+staff time development; protection plan review $750 (<=5 trees)/$1,250 (6+); fees non-refundable | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| San Francisco | 2026-2027 Bureau of Urban Forestry Permit Fee Schedule (eff. July 1, 2026): Tree Removal Permit Application Fee $499 (1-3 trees, non construction related), $1,004 (1-3 trees, construction related), $1,337 (4-9 trees), $2,009 (10+ trees); In-Lieu Tree Fee $2,646 per tree; Tree Pruning Permit $441; Tree Protection Plan Review $209; Board of Appeal surcharge $9. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| San Jose | Eff. Aug 10, 2026: live ordinance-size tree, single-family/duplex $2,587 + $336 Citywide Planning fee (13%); other property $2,985 + $388; dead tree $497 + $64; unsuitable tree $398 + $51; heritage tree $13,185 + $1,714; live and heritage removals also pay public-notice mailing ($601 for a 300-ft radius) | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| San Mateo | FY 26-27 (eff. 7/1/2026): Protected Tree Removal (CDD) $100; Heritage/Street Tree Permit (P&R) $113; in-lieu: 15-gal $528, 24" box $845 | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| San Rafael | None (no private permit) | 2026-10-09 | |
| Santa Clara | Input had no dollar figure. Planning Application Fee Schedule, 'Fees Effective July 1, 2026', Resolution 26-9552 adopted April 21, 2026, last revised 09/11/2026: TREE REMOVAL - Heritage Tree $904.00; Single Family $320.00; All Others $612.00. Public Works lines on same schedule: Tree Removal (per tree) $1,116.00; Tree Planting In-lieu for Private Development Tree Removal (per tree) $2,111.00. 'No fee shall be refunded because of the denial of any application.' | FY 2026 | 2026-10-09 |
| Saratoga | Eff. 1/5/2026: $151 per tree; after-the-fact $658 flat (<=3 trees); waived for dead/fallen (verified) + qualifying WUI species (Monterey pine, blue gum) | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Sunnyvale | Planning Division Fees, Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (Effective August 18, 2026; updated 8/26/2026): Tree Removal Permit $406.00 + 5% technology fee = $426.30 total; Tree Removal Permit (w/Certified Arborist Report) $223.00 + 5% = $234.15 total; Tree Removal Permit (by PG&E) No Fee. Tree replacement in-lieu fees: 15 gallon $551; 24" box $101 (as printed); 36" box $1,103; 48" box $2,205. Input's FY 25/26 figures were $406.35 / $224.70. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Tiburon | Tree Permit**: (a) Single tree $170; (b) 2 through 4 trees $260; (c) 5+ trees $280 plus $55 per each additional tree. '**' = 'Initial deposit amount only. Any remainder will be refunded; additional Staff time to process will be billed per the Town's Hourly Rate Schedule(s)'. Input's '$280 single tree' and 'flat, not deposits' are both contradicted by the adopted schedule; $280 is the 5+ tree tier and all tree-permit fees are deposits. The Town's Forms & Fees page shows the same three tiers. | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
| Walnut Creek | $85 application; city arborist performs field evaluation (no applicant arborist report for standalone removals) | FY2026 | 2026-10-09 |
| Woodside | $130 flat (FY 26-27, Res. 2026-7819); NO FEE for eucalyptus, acacia, Monterey pine removals or Defensible Space & Home Hardening Program removals | FY 2026-27 | 2026-10-09 |
Questions
Is the fee refundable if the permit is denied?
Generally no; it covers review. Some cities waive fees for dead, hazardous or fire-safety removals; the city page says which.
What is an in-lieu fee?
A payment instead of planting a replacement tree, charged per tree or per inch of trunk removed in some cities.
Every cell comes from the verified 35-city dataset (CSV and JSON available there). Each city page links the code section and source.
Permit fee is the small part
The report, the replacement obligation and the penalty for getting it wrong are what cost money. Check the rule before you apply.