Tree Removal Permits in Marin County: 12 Jurisdictions Compared
One sentence per city, generated from the verified dataset. Click through for the full rule, the process and the fire-safety route.
Dataset version 2026-10-21 · 12 cities · by Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
12 jurisdictions in Marin County, each with its own ordinance. 7 always require an arborist report with a removal application; San Rafael has no private-tree permit. Permit fees run from $170 (Tiburon) to $1,496 (Belvedere). Each city page has the code section, the fee schedule, the process and the fire-safety rule.
| City | The rule in one sentence | Permit fee | Arborist report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belvedere | Belvedere requires a permit to remove tree native to Belvedere at 16″; visually significant tree of any species at any size; tree removed as part of a Design Review project at any size; 1 more protected class. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required in some cases. Permit fee from $1,496. Verified October 21, 2026. | from $1,496 | Sometimes |
| Corte Madera | Corte Madera requires a permit to remove any species at 50″; tree on Town-owned property or easement at any size. Measured as trunk circumference at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required with the application. Permit fee from $300. Verified October 21, 2026. | from $300 | Required |
| Fairfax | Fairfax requires a permit to remove any species at 12″; california nutmeg, giant chinquapin, toyon at 12″; bigleaf maple and others at 25″; 2 more protected classes. Measured as trunk circumference at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required in some cases. Permit fee from $625. Verified October 21, 2026. | from $625 | Sometimes |
| Larkspur | Larkspur requires a permit to remove any species (heritage tree) at 50″; council-designated heritage tree or grove at any size; any tree in the public right-of-way at any size. Measured as trunk circumference at 24″ above grade. Arborist report required with the application. Permit fee from $239. Verified October 21, 2026. | from $239 | Required |
| Marin County (unincorporated) | Marin County (unincorporated) requires a permit to remove native oaks, Pacific madrone, Sargent cypress and native willows at 6″; other listed natives at 10″. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required in some cases. Permit fee from $500. Verified October 21, 2026. | from $500 | Sometimes |
| Mill Valley | Mill Valley requires a permit to remove tanbark oak at 65″; oak (Quercus) or madrone at 75″; coast redwood at 95″; 1 more protected class. Measured as trunk circumference at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required with the application. Permit fee from $1,401. Verified July 31, 2026. | from $1,401 | Required |
| Novato | Novato requires a permit to remove any species, native or non-native at 24″; any tree on an undeveloped parcel at 6″; council-designated heritage tree at any size; 1 more protected class. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 24″ above grade. Arborist report required with the application. Permit fee see fee schedule. Verified October 21, 2026. | see fee schedule | Required |
| Ross | Ross requires a permit to remove any species, single trunk over 12″ DBH at over 12″; any species over 8″ DBH within 25 ft of the front at over 8″; any species 6″ DBH or more on an unimproved parcel at 6″; 1 more protected class. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required with the application. Permit fee from $552. Verified October 21, 2026. | from $552 | Required |
| San Anselmo | San Anselmo requires a permit to remove any species on a developed lot at 22″; any tree on an undeveloped lot at 7″; council-designated heritage tree at any size; 1 more protected class. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required with the application. Permit fee from $325. Verified October 21, 2026. | from $325 | Required |
| San Rafael | San Rafael has no permit for removing trees on private property. Street, park and city-designated heritage trees still need city approval. Verified July 31, 2026. | no fee | Not required |
| Sausalito | Sausalito requires a permit to remove coast live oak (any private lot) at 4″; any other species on developed private property at 10″; any tree on undeveloped private property at 4″; 2 more protected classes. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above grade. Arborist report required with the application. Permit fee from $1,171. Verified October 12, 2026. | from $1,171 | Required |
| Tiburon | Tiburon requires a permit to remove listed oaks at any size; any species (heritage size) at 60″; council-dedicated tree at any size. Measured as trunk circumference at 24″ above grade. Arborist report required in some cases. Permit fee from $170. Verified July 31, 2026. | from $170 | Sometimes |
Every cell comes from the verified 56-city dataset (CSV and JSON available there). Each city page links the code section and source.
Need a report a Marin County city will accept?
Written to the city's own checklist by an ISA Certified Arborist who does not sell tree work.