Tree Permits in 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.
Last verified · fees checked · Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
Corte Madera tree ordinance at a glance
| Code section | CMMC Ch. 15.50 Trees (Ord. 796 and 797, 1995; Ord. 840, 1999; Ord. 998, 2020; Ord. 1007, 2021; Ord. 1013, 2021), Article II Tree Permit |
|---|---|
| Protected trees | Any species ('tree' means any woody plant) on private property with a single trunk circumference of 50 inches or more, or a multi-stemmed tree with an aggregate circumference of 120 inches or more, measured 4.5 feet above grade; removal, destruction or alteration (pruning more than 33 percent of the canopy, girdling, root-zone regrading, etc.) needs a tree permit. Eight 'undesirable species' (blue gum, sugar gum and manna gum eucalyptus, black acacia, green wattle acacia, Monterey pine, all junipers, Lombardy poplar) are exempt at any size, subject to town-arborist species confirmation at 50 inches circumference and above. Listed 'fire-prone trees' (acacia, arborvitae, bishop pine, California bay, cedars, Coulter pine, cypress, Douglas fir, eucalyptus, false cypress, firs, gray pine, junipers, knobcone pine, larch, Monterey pine, pond pine, Scots pine, spruces, Torrey pine, yew) are exempt once the town confirms the species and the fire code official verifies a fire hazard. 'Heritage trees' (100 inches circumference and 50 years old, or 100 years old, excluding undesirable species) cannot be removed under a view claim. |
| Size threshold | 50" circumference single trunk / 120" aggregate circumference multi-stem (any species) at 4.5 ft 15.50.050(1) exempts 'trees with a single trunk circumference less than fifty inches (or multistemmed trees having an aggregate circumference of less than one hundred twenty inches), measured four and one-half feet above grade'. 'Alter' includes 'pruning of more than thirty-three percent of the canopy area' (15.50.020(2)); maintenance pruning (crown cleaning, crown raising, crown reduction, each capped at 33 percent) by the owner is exempt (15.50.050(2)). |
| Multi-trunk trees | Multi-stemmed trees: aggregate circumference of all stems; permit at 120 inches aggregate (single trunk 50 inches) measured 4.5 feet above grade (15.50.050(1)); heritage tree aggregate 100 inches (15.50.020(12b)) |
| Dead or hazardous trees | No dead-tree exemption; tree condition (disease, danger of falling, fire hazard) is a decision factor (15.50.060(1)). Emergency: 'a tree located on private property ... may be removed without the necessity of a permit application ... upon a determination by the town manager, or his/her designee, that removal of the tree is necessary for the immediate protection of life or property' (15.50.050(7)); the application form adds that an arborist report must then be submitted to Planning to verify the tree's condition. |
| Fire-safety removals | Exempt when the conditions are met. A listed fire-prone tree may be removed without a tree permit once the town confirms the species and the fire code official verifies it is a fire hazard (CMMC 15.50.050(9)); the eight undesirable species are exempt at any size, and fire hazard is also an approval factor for other trees (15.50.060(1)). source · all cities |
| Permit fee (FY 2025-26) | Tree Permit: a) Three Trees or Less $300; b) Each Additional Tree After Three $50 (Planning Fees line 27). Appeal: the code fixes the tree-permit appeal fee at $100 (15.50.040(c)); the fee schedule's generic 'Appeal to Town Council' is $1,500 (line 34a). fee schedule |
| Permit filing by this practice | $750 flat for one tree, $600 with an arborist report or if you post the notice yourself; city fee above is extra. Two-page paper/email application with the independent certified-arborist report, site plan and photos; the Town mails the 300-ft notice and the planning director decides; no posting or hearing unless appealed to the Town Council. Have it filed. |
| Penalties for removal without a permit | Removing, destroying or altering any tree without a required permit is a misdemeanor; each tree is a separate offense; fines up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail (15.50.030(a), (b)); administrative citations and fines under Ch. 9.05 also apply (15.50.030(c)); tree fees and fines are earmarked for town tree matters (15.50.030(d)). No replacement formula or appraisal-based penalty in the chapter. |
| Arborist report | Required. Every tree permit application in practice: the Town's Application for Tree Permit lists as submittal requirement 3 'An Arborist Report that includes an assessment and recommendation signed by a Certified Arborist working independently of a tree removal service.' The code itself is permissive: 15.50.070(a) 'Where appropriate, the planning director may also consider a written report from an independent tree expert at the applicant's expense, if agreed to by the applicant.' Undesirable-species removals at 50 inches circumference or more need the town arborist's species confirmation (15.50.050(5)); emergency removals need an arborist report afterward (form); fire-prone trees need town species confirmation plus fire code official verification (15.50.050(9)). Who may write it: Application form: 'a Certified Arborist working independently of a tree removal service'. Code definition 15.50.020(5): 'A certified arborist is a person who has passed a series of tests by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and is governed by ISA's professional code of ethics.' |
| Who to call | Community Development Department, Planning Division, 300 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera 94925; (415) 927-5064, plcounter@cortemadera.gov; the planning director (director of environmental services / community development) decides tree permits; appeals to the Town Council · official page |
- : Fee schedule updated (FY 2025-26): Tree Permit: a) Three Trees or Less $300; b) Each Additional Tree After Three $50 (Planning Fees line 27). Appeal: the code fixes the tree-permit appeal fee at $100…
Sources: library.municode.com · cortemadera.gov. Urban Forestry Guide is not a city line; for Corte Madera permit questions use the department above.
Does my tree need a permit in Corte Madera?
A permit is required when the tree is protected and meets the size rule. Corte Madera measures trunk circumference at 54″ above the ground.
- Any species: protected at 50″ circumference
- Tree on Town-owned property or easement: protected at any size
- Blue gum, sugar gum and manna gum eucalyptus, black acacia, green wattle acacia, Monterey pine, all junipers, Lombardy poplar: exempt. Undesirable species: no permit at any size, but the town arborist must confirm the species before removing one of 50" circumference (or 120" aggregate) or more (15.50.050(5)).
- Multi-trunk trees: Multi-stemmed trees: add all stems; 120" aggregate circumference needs the permit, or any single trunk of 50" (15.50.050(1)).
Alteration (pruning more than 33% of the canopy, girdling, root-zone regrading) needs the same permit; owner maintenance pruning (crown cleaning, raising or reduction up to 33%) is exempt (15.50.020(2), 15.50.050(2)).
Listed fire-prone trees (acacia, arborvitae, bishop pine, California bay, cedars, Coulter pine, cypress, Douglas fir, eucalyptus, false cypress, firs, gray pine, junipers, knobcone pine, larch, Monterey pine, pond pine, Scots pine, spruces, Torrey pine, yew) are exempt from the permit once the town confirms the species and the fire code official verifies a fire hazard (15.50.050(9)).
Application form requires an independent certified-arborist report; fee $300 for up to three trees plus $50 per additional tree (FY 2025-26); 300-ft mailed notice 10 days before the director decides; 10-day appeal to the Town Council; permit valid one year.
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 Corte Madera require an arborist report?
Yes. Every tree permit application in practice: the Town's Application for Tree Permit lists as submittal requirement 3 'An Arborist Report that includes an assessment and recommendation signed by a Certified Arborist working independently of a tree removal service.' The code itself is permissive: 15.50.070(a) 'Where appropriate, the planning director may also consider a written report from an independent tree expert at the applicant's expense, if agreed to by the applicant.' Undesirable-species removals at 50 inches circumference or more need the town arborist's species confirmation (15.50.050(5)); emergency removals need an arborist report afterward (form); fire-prone trees need town species confirmation plus fire code official verification (15.50.050(9)).
Who may write it: Application form: 'a Certified Arborist working independently of a tree removal service'. Code definition 15.50.020(5): 'A certified arborist is a person who has passed a series of tests by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and is governed by ISA's professional code of ethics.'. None found. Species confirmation for undesirable trees is done by the town arborist (15.50.050(5)).
“An Arborist Report that includes an assessment and recommendation signed by a Certified Arborist working independently of a tree removal service.” city application form
How to get a tree removal permit in Corte Madera
- Confirm a permit is needed: any tree on private property with a single trunk circumference of 50 inches or more (or stems totaling 120 inches) measured 4.5 feet above grade, for removal, destruction or alteration (pruning over 33 percent of the canopy, root-zone regrading, girdling). Exempt: smaller trees, owner maintenance pruning, hedges/espaliers/pollards, the eight undesirable species (town arborist confirmation needed at 50 inches and up), fire-prone trees verified as a fire hazard by the fire code official, emergencies declared by the town manager, view-claim orders, and Title 22 objective-standards projects (15.50.040, 15.50.050). source
- Hire an ISA Certified Arborist who does not work for a tree removal service to write an assessment and recommendation; prepare a scaled site plan showing property lines, structures and each tree, and photographs of each tree; list each tree's species, circumference at 4 ft 6 in above grade and the reason for removal keyed to the 15.50.060 factors (Application for Tree Permit). source
- Submit the Application for Tree Permit to the Planning Division (300 Tamalpais Drive, plcounter@cortemadera.gov, (415) 927-5064) with the fee: $300 for three trees or less plus $50 for each additional tree (FY 2025-26 schedule). The director may refer the application to another department, committee or person for a recommendation and may consider an independent tree expert's report at the applicant's expense if the applicant agrees (15.50.040(b), 15.50.070(a)). source
- The Planning Division mails notice of the application to all property owners within 300 feet at least 10 days before the planning director decides (15.50.070(b)). source
- The planning director approves, conditionally approves or denies on the 15.50.060 factors (tree condition including disease, fire hazard, danger of falling and proximity to structures; number of trees in the area; privacy, energy and soil-stability value; species, vigor, screening, replacement potential and historic value; the applicant's own views and sunlight) and mails the decision to the applicant and anyone who asked for it (15.50.070(c)). source
- Any interested party may appeal in writing with the $100 appeal fee within 10 days of the decision; the Town Council hears it at the next available meeting after notice to owners within 300 feet. With no appeal the permit becomes effective 10 days after the decision; the person doing the work must carry the permit; the permit lapses one year after it became effective unless work has begun, and may be renewed once for a further year if the renewal is filed before expiry (15.50.070(d), (e)). source
| Timeline | Mailed 300-ft notice at least 10 days before the director's decision; permit effective 10 days after the decision if not appealed; no overall decision deadline published. Permit valid one year from its effective date, renewable once for one year. “When the planning director receives an application for a tree permit, notice of said application shall be mailed to the owners of all properties within three hundred feet of the property on which the tree(s) is (are) located, at least ten days prior to a decision by the planning director.” source |
|---|---|
| Appeal | 15.50.070(d): any interested party may appeal the planning director's decision in writing to the planning department, with the appeal fee, within 10 days of the decision; the director sets it on the next available Town Council agenda with written notice to the appellant, applicant and owners within 300 feet; after a public hearing the Council may affirm, modify or reverse. Appeal fee: $100 per 15.50.040(c) (the fee schedule's generic Council appeal line is $1,500). “Any interested party may appeal the planning director's decision. Such appeal must be submitted in writing to the planning department, with appeal fee, within ten days from the date of the planning director's decision, briefly stating the facts and grounds of the appeal.” source |
| Replacement | No replacement ratio for tree permits; the director 'may attach reasonable conditions to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter' (15.50.070(a)) and 'potential for replacement of removed trees' is a decision factor (15.50.060(4)). View-claim removals 'may be accompanied by replacement plantings of appropriate plant materials' and never undesirable species (15.50.170(5)); Title 22 projects replace per Title 22 (15.50.050(10)). source |
| Forms | Application for Tree Permit (Community Development Department, Planning Division; 2 pages with the 15.50.060 factors and 15.50.050 exemptions) · Planning Department FAQ: How can I remove a tree from my property? (reprints 15.50.050 exemptions) · Schedule of User and Regulatory Fees and Charges, effective July 1, 2025 (Planning Fees line 27 Tree Permit) · Planning Division page (contact, hours, link to the adopted fee schedule) · CMMC Chapter 15.50 Trees (Municode) |
Process verified October 21, 2026 against the city's code, forms and department pages.
Frequently asked questions about tree permits in Corte Madera
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in Corte Madera?
No dead-tree exemption; tree condition (disease, danger of falling, fire hazard) is a decision factor (15.50.060(1)). Emergency: 'a tree located on private property ... may be removed without the necessity of a permit application ... upon a determination by the town manager, or his/her designee, that removal of the tree is necessary for the immediate protection of life or property' (15.50.050(7)); the application form adds that an arborist report must then be submitted to Planning to verify the tree's condition.
What is the fine for removing a tree without a permit in Corte Madera?
Removing, destroying or altering any tree without a required permit is a misdemeanor; each tree is a separate offense; fines up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail (15.50.030(a), (b)); administrative citations and fines under Ch. 9.05 also apply (15.50.030(c)); tree fees and fines are earmarked for town tree matters (15.50.030(d)). No replacement formula or appraisal-based penalty in the chapter.
How long does a tree removal permit take in Corte Madera?
Mailed 300-ft notice at least 10 days before the director's decision; permit effective 10 days after the decision if not appealed; no overall decision deadline published. Permit valid one year from its effective date, renewable once for one year.
Does Corte Madera require an arborist report for a tree removal permit?
Required. Every tree permit application in practice: the Town's Application for Tree Permit lists as submittal requirement 3 'An Arborist Report that includes an assessment and recommendation signed by a Certified Arborist working independently of a tree removal service.' The code itself is permissive: 15.50.070(a) 'Where appropriate, the planning director may also consider a written report from an independent tree expert at the applicant's expense, if agreed to by the applicant.' Undesirable-species removals at 50 inches circumference or more need the town arborist's species confirmation (15.50.050(5)); emergency removals need an arborist report afterward (form); fire-prone trees need town species confirmation plus fire code official verification (15.50.050(9)).
Can I remove a tree for fire safety in Corte Madera without a permit?
Exempt from the permit when the conditions are met. A listed fire-prone tree may be removed without a tree permit once the town confirms the species and the fire code official verifies it is a fire hazard (CMMC 15.50.050(9)); the eight undesirable species are exempt at any size, and fire hazard is also an approval factor for other trees (15.50.060(1)).
How does Corte Madera measure a tree for the permit threshold?
Trunk circumference at 54 inches above grade. 50" circumference single trunk / 120" aggregate circumference multi-stem (any species) at 4.5 ft
Tree permits in nearby cities
Belvedere · 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 Corte Madera 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.