Tree Permits in 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.
Last verified · fees checked · Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
Belvedere tree ordinance at a glance
| Code section | BMC Ch. 20.04 Design Review, 20.04.015 (Ord. 2004-5; Ord. 2016-5) and Administrative Policy Manual Policy 15.2 Removal of Significant Trees (Res. 2019-04); Ch. 8.28 Trees (view, sunlight and hazard disputes, Ord. 98-8, Ord. 2016-11) |
|---|---|
| Protected trees | No tree-permit chapter. Private tree removal is regulated only through Design Review: 20.04.015(A)(3) makes landscaping projects subject to Design Review 'when a visually significant portion of a parcel is affected', and City Policy 15.2 says removing one or more trees native to Belvedere (such as oaks) greater than 16 inches in diameter, or any removal that is part of a larger Design Review project or required by a prior approval, requires a Design Review application; the City page extends this to 'visually significant trees' judged by size, number and relationship to the lot, with special consideration for redwoods. Dying trees, 'undesirable' trees (blue gum eucalyptus, coast redwood, Monterey pine, Monterey cypress, poplar, Acacia decurrens, Acacia melanoxylon and other fast-growing species per 8.28.080), trees without privacy or screening value and immature trees can be exempted by staff through a Statement of Exterior Changes application and field inspection. Ch. 8.28 governs neighbor view/sunlight claims and hazard complaints, not permits. |
| Size threshold | 16" diameter native trees (policy); 'visually significant' trees of any species by staff judgment; no code threshold Policy 15.2: 'Removing one or more trees native to Belvedere (such as oak trees) greater than 16 inches in diameter will be considered a significant landscaping change that will require approval of a Design Review application.' The policy states no measurement height; 54 inches is taken from the Design Review landscape-plan standard, 20.04.080(I): 'Show all existing trees (with diameter measured at 4.5 feet above grade on the uphill side of the tree and species noted) and indicate any trees which are to be removed.' The code itself (20.04.015(B)(2)) lists 'removal of trees' among landscape changes exempt from Design Review when not part of a larger Planning Commission project, so the 16-inch rule is administrative policy, not ordinance text. |
| Multi-trunk trees | None stated in the policy or Ch. 20.04 |
| Dead or hazardous trees | Dying trees may be exempted from Design Review by staff (Policy 15.2, citing 20.04.015). 'If a tree is a danger to life or property, the Building Official can determine that an emergency exception is necessary under Section 20.04.020(C) and authorize the work' (Policy 15.2); the owner must then return with a plan to correct the loss of visually significant landscaping. Hazard complaints about any tree go to the superintendent of public works under 8.28.030, which can order correction within 30 days (7-day appeal to Council) and lets a complainant deposit funds for a City-retained certified arborist's opinion; Public Works charges $225 plus arborist costs for a Hazardous Tree Evaluation. |
| Fire-safety removals | No special treatment. No fire-safety or defensible-space provision governs private tree removal; the only related rules are that staff may exempt 'undesirable' (fast-growing, flammable) species from Design Review under Policy 15.2, and that in a neighbor view dispute removal may be ordered to prevent growth 'with the consequent danger of increase in fire hazard' (BMC 8.28.080(E)). source · all cities |
| Permit fee (FY 2026-27) | No tree-specific permit fee. Planning Fees (effective July 1, 2026): Design Review - Staff Level $1,496; Design Review Exception Minor $1,496 / Medium $3,490 / Major $5,984; Design Review - Exemption Application $374 (the Statement of Exterior Changes route Policy 15.2 uses to exempt most removals); Planning Commission Design Review $7,978 to $11,967 (addition/new residence tiers); Appeal $5,984; Retroactive Approval 2x total fees plus $500 fine. The independent City-contracted arborist report is billed to the applicant in addition. Public Works: Hazardous Tree Evaluation $225 plus actual arborist costs; Pruning or Removal of a City Tree Application $1,236. Which Design Review line a stand-alone tree removal falls under is not stated on the City page and should be confirmed with Planning. fee schedule |
| Permit filing by this practice | Quoted after a call: routine permits in Belvedere go to a hearing. Tree removal is handled through Design Review rather than a tree permit, so filing means a design review application and hearing. How permit filing works. |
| Penalties for removal without a permit | No tree-specific penalty. Fee schedule: 'Retroactive Approval 2X total fees' plus 'Retroactive Approval Fine $500' for work done without Design Review approval (Planning Fees line 5); failure to perform court- or arbitration-ordered view corrective work is maintaining a public nuisance (8.28.130); unresolved hazards may be abated at the owner's expense (8.28.030(E)). General Title 20 and Title 1 enforcement provisions not read. |
| Arborist report | Sometimes required. For significant tree removals that go through Design Review: the City's Tree Trimming and Removal page says 'Most significant tree removals will require a site inspection by an independent, City-contracted arborist. The cost for the report is charged to the applicant. Reports hired by the property owners cannot be considered for "independent" review.' Exempted removals (Statement of Exterior Changes plus staff field inspection) need no report. In view disputes an arbitrator 'may require either party to pay for and submit a report from a certified arborist' (8.28.040(F)(1)); hazard complaints can be referred to a City-retained certified arborist at the complainant's deposit (8.28.030(C)). Who may write it: Only the independent, City-contracted arborist; owner-hired reports are not accepted as independent review (City page). Ch. 8.28 uses 'certified arborist'. |
| Who to call | Planning and Building Department (Planning Department), City Hall, 450 San Rafael Avenue, Belvedere 94920; (415) 435-8902 (Planning) / (415) 435-3838 (Planning and Building); Public Works (415) 435-4111 for hazardous trees; Design Review decided by staff (Director of Planning and Building) or the Planning Commission, appeal to the City Council · official page |
- : Fee schedule updated (FY 2026-27): No tree-specific permit fee. Planning Fees (effective July 1, 2026): Design Review - Staff Level $1,496; Design Review Exception Minor $1,496 / Medium $3,490 / Major…
Sources: belvedere.municipal.codes · cityofbelvedere.gov · storage.googleapis.com. Urban Forestry Guide is not a city line; for Belvedere permit questions use the department above.
Does my tree need a permit in Belvedere?
A permit is required when the tree is protected and meets the size rule. Belvedere measures trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above the ground.
- Tree native to Belvedere (oak, buckeye, redwood, madrone and other natives): protected at 16″ diameter
- Visually significant tree of any species (staff judgment: size, number, relationship to the lot): protected at any size (visually significant portion of the parcel)
- Tree removed as part of a Design Review project or required by a prior approval: protected at any size
- City or right-of-way tree: protected at any size
- Undesirable species (blue gum eucalyptus, Monterey pine, Monterey cypress, poplar, green wattle and blackwood acacia; coast redwood is listed too but the City gives redwoods special consideration): exempt. Staff may exempt undesirable, dying, immature and non-screening trees from Design Review through a Statement of Exterior Changes application and a field inspection (Policy 15.2); confirm with Planning before cutting.
Not a tree ordinance: BMC 20.04.015(B)(2) exempts "removal of trees" from Design Review when not part of a larger project, but 20.04.015(A)(3), Policy 15.2 and the City page require Design Review for visually significant trees and natives over 16" diameter. Call Planning (415) 435-8902 first.
Significant removals get an inspection and report by the independent City-contracted arborist at the applicant's cost (owner-hired reports are not accepted); approvals typically require two replacement trees per tree removed (City page). Design Review fees: staff level $1,496, exemption application $374, appeal $5,984 (FY 2026-27).
Chapter 8.28 is a neighbor view/sunlight and hazard-complaint process (mediation, arbitration, court), not a permit; work hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Measurement height for the 16" policy threshold (policy silent; 54" taken from the 20.04.080(I) landscape-plan standard).
Which Design Review fee line applies to a stand-alone tree removal.
Whether the 20.04.015(B)(2) code exemption or Policy 15.2 controls when they conflict.
Check my tree in the permit checker
Street trees, city-designated heritage trees and trees required by a development approval are protected at any size in every city. Trees on lot lines belong to both owners.
Does Belvedere require an arborist report?
Sometimes. For significant tree removals that go through Design Review: the City's Tree Trimming and Removal page says 'Most significant tree removals will require a site inspection by an independent, City-contracted arborist. The cost for the report is charged to the applicant. Reports hired by the property owners cannot be considered for "independent" review.' Exempted removals (Statement of Exterior Changes plus staff field inspection) need no report. In view disputes an arbitrator 'may require either party to pay for and submit a report from a certified arborist' (8.28.040(F)(1)); hazard complaints can be referred to a City-retained certified arborist at the complainant's deposit (8.28.030(C)).
Who may write it: Only the independent, City-contracted arborist; owner-hired reports are not accepted as independent review (City page). Ch. 8.28 uses 'certified arborist'.. The City contracts its own arborist; no public list. Owner-hired arborists cannot author the independent review.
“Most significant tree removals will require a site inspection by an independent, City-contracted arborist. The cost for the report is charged to the applicant. Reports hired by the property owners cannot be considered for "independent" review.” source
How to get a tree removal permit in Belvedere
- Call or email the Planning Department ((415) 435-8902) before removing any tree. Design Review approval is needed when the removal affects a visually significant portion of the property: under Policy 15.2 any native tree (oak, buckeye, redwood, madrone) over 16 inches in diameter, any removal that is part of a larger Design Review project or required by a prior approval, and other 'visually significant' trees judged by size, number and relationship to the lot and neighbors (20.04.015(A)(3); Policy 15.2; City page). source
- Exemption route: if other trees in the area minimize the loss, the tree is not native to Belvedere and the adjacent residents approve, staff can exempt the removal under 20.04.015(B)(2) 'by means of a Statement of Exterior Changes application and a Staff field inspection'; dying trees, undesirable species, trees without privacy or screening value and immature trees can also be exempted (Policy 15.2). Design Review - Exemption Application fee $374 (FY 2026-27). source
- Design Review route: file a Design Review application with the Planning Department (staff-level $1,496 or Planning Commission tiers, FY 2026-27) including a landscape plan showing all existing trees with diameter at 4.5 feet on the uphill side and species, marking trees to be removed (20.04.080(I)); most significant removals then get a site inspection and report by the independent City-contracted arborist, billed to the applicant. source
- Staff or the Planning Commission decide under the Ch. 20.04 design criteria ('the removal of trees, vegetation, rock, and soil should be kept to a minimum', 20.04.120); approval 'will typically require that replacement trees be planted – the general guideline is two new trees for each tree removed' (City page). Decisions are appealable to the City Council (20.04 appeal provisions; fee $5,984). source
- Hazard trees: if a tree is a danger to life or property the Building Official may grant an emergency exception under 20.04.020(C) and authorize the work, after which the owner must submit a plan to correct the loss of visually significant landscaping (Policy 15.2); hazard complaints about a neighbor's or City tree go to Public Works under 8.28.030 ((415) 435-4111; Hazardous Tree Evaluation $225 plus arborist costs). source
- Do the work 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, contain debris on site daily, stabilize slopes immediately after removal, get an Encroachment Permit for any work on or abutting City streets and sidewalks and Public Works approval for road closures; the tree company needs a Belvedere business license (8.28.120; City page). source
| Timeline | No tree-specific timeline. Design Review follows the Ch. 20.04 application and hearing calendar (Planning Commission applications need story poles and plans 20 and 10 days before the meeting; staff-level exceptions and exemptions are decided administratively); an emergency exception by the Building Official is immediate. “You can begin the Design Review process here or contact the Planning Department by email or call (415) 435-8902.” source |
|---|---|
| Appeal | Design Review decisions by staff or the Planning Commission are appealable to the City Council under Ch. 20.04 ('approved by the Planning Commission or the council on appeal', 20.04.020(A)); Planning appeal fee $5,984 flat (FY 2026-27). Hazard orders under 8.28.030(D)(2) may be appealed to the City Council within 7 days of the notice. View/sunlight disputes are resolved by mediation, binding arbitration or Marin County Superior Court, not by the City. “unless and until the site plan, the architectural plans (including elevations and Sections), and landscape plan, as required by the Director of Planning and Building pursuant to Section 20.04.080, shall have first been submitted for design review to and have been approved by the Planning Commission or the council on appeal” source |
| Replacement | City page: 'Approval of the removal of trees will typically require that replacement trees be planted – the general guideline is two new trees for each tree removed.' Policy 15.2: after an emergency removal 'the property owner is required to come back with a plan to correct the problem created by the loss of the visually significant landscaping.' Code: 'Any tree removed on a sloping site shall immediately be replaced by adequate vegetation or other appropriate measure to stabilize the hillside' (8.28.120(C)); arbitrators may order replacement plantings in view cases (8.28.050). source |
| Forms | Tree Trimming and Removal (Planning and Building page: when Design Review applies, independent arborist, 2:1 replacement guideline, hazard trees, work rules) · Administrative Policy Manual Part 15 Planning Department Policies (Policy 15.2 Removal of Significant Trees, rev. 3/11/2019, Res. 2019-04) · Planning and Building Applications and Forms (Design Review and Statement of Exterior Changes applications) · Schedule of User and Regulatory Fees effective July 1, 2026 (Planning and Building Fees page) · BMC Chapter 20.04 Design Review · BMC Chapter 8.28 Trees (hazards, view and sunlight) |
Process verified October 21, 2026 against the city's code, forms and department pages.
Frequently asked questions about tree permits in Belvedere
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in Belvedere?
Dying trees may be exempted from Design Review by staff (Policy 15.2, citing 20.04.015). 'If a tree is a danger to life or property, the Building Official can determine that an emergency exception is necessary under Section 20.04.020(C) and authorize the work' (Policy 15.2); the owner must then return with a plan to correct the loss of visually significant landscaping. Hazard complaints about any tree go to the superintendent of public works under 8.28.030, which can order correction within 30 days (7-day appeal to Council) and lets a complainant deposit funds for a City-retained certified arborist's opinion; Public Works charges $225 plus arborist costs for a Hazardous Tree Evaluation.
What is the fine for removing a tree without a permit in Belvedere?
No tree-specific penalty. Fee schedule: 'Retroactive Approval 2X total fees' plus 'Retroactive Approval Fine $500' for work done without Design Review approval (Planning Fees line 5); failure to perform court- or arbitration-ordered view corrective work is maintaining a public nuisance (8.28.130); unresolved hazards may be abated at the owner's expense (8.28.030(E)). General Title 20 and Title 1 enforcement provisions not read.
How long does a tree removal permit take in Belvedere?
No tree-specific timeline. Design Review follows the Ch. 20.04 application and hearing calendar (Planning Commission applications need story poles and plans 20 and 10 days before the meeting; staff-level exceptions and exemptions are decided administratively); an emergency exception by the Building Official is immediate.
Does Belvedere require an arborist report for a tree removal permit?
Sometimes required. For significant tree removals that go through Design Review: the City's Tree Trimming and Removal page says 'Most significant tree removals will require a site inspection by an independent, City-contracted arborist. The cost for the report is charged to the applicant. Reports hired by the property owners cannot be considered for "independent" review.' Exempted removals (Statement of Exterior Changes plus staff field inspection) need no report. In view disputes an arbitrator 'may require either party to pay for and submit a report from a certified arborist' (8.28.040(F)(1)); hazard complaints can be referred to a City-retained certified arborist at the complainant's deposit (8.28.030(C)).
Can I remove a tree for fire safety in Belvedere without a permit?
No special treatment in the ordinance. No fire-safety or defensible-space provision governs private tree removal; the only related rules are that staff may exempt 'undesirable' (fast-growing, flammable) species from Design Review under Policy 15.2, and that in a neighbor view dispute removal may be ordered to prevent growth 'with the consequent danger of increase in fire hazard' (BMC 8.28.080(E)).
How does Belvedere measure a tree for the permit threshold?
Trunk diameter (DBH) at 54 inches above grade. 16" diameter native trees (policy); "visually significant" trees of any species by staff judgment; no code threshold
Tree permits in nearby cities
Corte Madera · Fairfax · Larkspur · Marin County (unincorporated) · Mill Valley · Novato · Ross · San Anselmo
Compare all 56 cities in the 56-city ordinance table, or run the permit checker.
Not sure what Belvedere will ask for?
A 20-minute call with an ISA Certified Arborist usually settles it: permit or no permit, report or no report, and what it will cost.