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Tree Permits in 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.

Check my treeArborist report for Marin County (unincorporated)

Last verified · fees checked · Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF

Marin County (unincorporated) tree ordinance at a glance

Code sectionMarin County Code Title 22 (Development Code) Ch. 22.27 Native Tree Protection and Preservation, secs. 22.27.010-22.27.090, and Ch. 22.62 Tree Removal Permits, secs. 22.62.010-22.62.050 (Ord. 3577, 2012; Ord. 3666, 2017); definitions of 'Protected Tree and Heritage Tree', 'Arborist', 'Native Tree Removal' and 'Vacant Lot' in Ch. 22.130 (Article VIII); Municode version May 28, 2026 (codified through Ord. 26-002, 2/24/2026)
Protected treesNative species only, by a table of 37 taxa in 22.130.030 with a 'Protected Size' and a 'Heritage Size' (Diameter at Breast Height): 6" protected / 18" heritage for coast live oak, blue oak, California black oak, canyon live oak, chaparral (interior live) oak, Shreve oak, Oregon (Garry) oak, valley oak, Pacific madrone, Sargent cypress, and arroyo, narrow-leaved, red, Scouler's, shining and Sitka willows; 10" protected / 30" heritage for big-leaf maple, bishop pine, box elder, California bay, California buckeye, California nutmeg, coast redwood, Douglas-fir, giant chinquapin, hawthorn, mountain-mahogany, Oregon ash, Pacific yew, red alder, red elderberry, service-berry, silk tassel, tanbark oak, wax myrtle and white alder. Non-native trees are not regulated. Applies to 'protected and heritage trees' on improved and unimproved lots in the non-agricultural unincorporated areas (22.62.020); exempt on a developed lot: up to two protected trees in a one-year period, no heritage trees, none in a Stream or Wetland Conservation Area (22.62.040.J). The County fact sheet states the chapter does not apply in the Coastal Zone (a Coastal Permit may be required instead; fact sheet not opened, see unverified_fields).
Size threshold6" DBH (oaks, madrone, Sargent cypress, willows) or 10" DBH (bay, redwood, Douglas-fir, maple, buckeye, alders and other listed natives) = protected; 18" / 30" DBH = heritage; native species only
22.130.030 table headings: 'Protected Size Diameter at Breast Height' and 'Heritage Size Diameter at Breast Height'; the table does not print a height in inches, so 54" is the standard DBH assumption. Permit trigger is not the size alone: a developed lot may remove up to two PROTECTED (not heritage) trees per year without a permit (22.62.040.J); any heritage tree, any protected tree beyond two per year, any protected/heritage tree in a Stream or Wetland Conservation Area, and protected trees on vacant lots need a Tree Removal Permit unless another 22.62.040 exemption applies.
Multi-trunk treesNone. Neither 22.130.030 nor Ch. 22.27/22.62 addresses multi-trunk measurement; the table uses 'Diameter at Breast Height' only.
Dead or hazardous treesExempt from the permit under 22.62.040 if the tree meets any one criterion: 'A. The general health of the tree is so poor due to disease, damage, or age that efforts to ensure its long-term health and survival are unlikely to be successful; B. The tree is infected by a pathogen or attacked by insects that threaten surrounding trees as determined by an arborist report or other qualified professional; C. The tree is a potential public health and safety hazard due to the risk of its falling and its structural instability cannot be remedied; D. The tree is a public nuisance by causing damage to improvements ... ; E. The tree has been identified by a Fire Inspector as a fire hazard'. The code adds: 'It is recommended that a property owner obtain a report from a licensed arborist or verify the status of the tree with photographs to document the applicability of the criteria'. No County pre-approval step is written into the exemption; the Director may later require a site plan or arborist's report to determine whether trees were removed in violation (22.27.080).
Fire-safety removalsExempt when the conditions are met. A protected or heritage tree 'identified by a Fire Inspector as a fire hazard' may be removed without a Tree Removal Permit (22.62.040.E); public-agency fuel-break work is also exempt (22.62.040.I), and replacement conditions defer to fire-district vegetation management requirements (22.27.040.A). source · all cities
Permit feeUNVERIFIED. Fees are set by the Planning Division Fee Schedule adopted by the Board of Supervisors (current PDF: planningfeeschedule_accessible_v7_112024_0.pdf, November 2024, 0.24 MB), which lists a 'Planning Fee' per permit type plus a 10% surcharge on certain deposit-based fees and a Technology Fee; the schedule could not be read (assets.marincounty.gov returns 403 to fetchers, blocks cross-origin reads and triggers a download dialog in the browser). Fee page rules: fees are confirmed after review of the proposed application package and collected at acceptance; when a project needs more than one permit the most expensive is charged in full and the others at half the Planning Fee; DPW and Environmental Health fees may be added. Code in-lieu payment: $500.00 per replacement tree to the Tree Preservation Fund where on-site planting is infeasible (22.27.040). 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. Most homeowner removals (up to two protected trees a year on a developed lot, dead, hazardous, nuisance or fire-inspector trees) are exempt with no filing; where a permit is needed it is an administrative Director decision on the General Planning Permit Application, noticed by the County under Ch. 22.118, with no applicant posting. Have it filed.
Penalties for removal without a permit22.27.060: 'the Director may pursue an enforcement action in compliance with Chapter 22.122 (Enforcement of Development Code Provisions), and County Code Chapter 1.05 (Nuisance Abatement). The enforcement action may result in substantial fines for enforcement costs and civil penalties over and above any funds paid into the Tree Preservation Fund, the exact amount to be determined through the abatement process.' No per-tree fine schedule in the chapter; replacement at the Director's discretion (22.27.040) and in-lieu $500 per replacement tree.
Arborist reportSometimes required. Not mandated for a Tree Removal Permit application by Ch. 22.62 (applications follow Ch. 22.40 filing rules and the General Planning Permit Application). The code recommends one to document a 22.62.040 exemption: 'It is recommended that a property owner obtain a report from a licensed arborist or verify the status of the tree with photographs to document the applicability of the criteria listed above'; exemption B (pathogen or insect infestation threatening surrounding trees) applies 'as determined by an arborist report or other qualified professional'. The Director 'may conduct a site inspection and require a site plan or arborist's report to determine whether trees have been removed in violation of this chapter' (22.27.080). County decisions on design review/tree removal projects routinely rely on applicant arborist reports.
Who may write it: 22.130.030: 'Arborist. An arborist is: 1) a person currently certified by the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture as an expert on the care of trees; 2) a consulting arborist who satisfies the requirements of the American Society of Consulting Arborists; or 3) such other qualified professionals who the Director determines has gained through experience the qualifications to identify, remove or replace trees.'
Who to callMarin County Community Development Agency, Planning Division, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 308, San Rafael, CA 94903; Planning Customer Service Team (415) 473-6269; counter Mon-Thu 8:00 am-4:00 pm, Fri 8:00 am-12:00 pm; Tree Removal Permit applications 'are available online and at the Agency's public service counter' (22.62.030) · official page
Recent changes
  • : Fee schedule updated (current schedule): UNVERIFIED. Fees are set by the Planning Division Fee Schedule adopted by the Board of Supervisors (current PDF: planningfeeschedule_accessible_v7_112024_0.pdf, November…

Sources: library.municode.com · marincounty.gov · assets.marincounty.gov. Urban Forestry Guide is not a city line; for Marin County (unincorporated) permit questions use the department above.

Does my tree need a permit in Marin County (unincorporated)?

A permit is required when the tree is protected and meets the size rule. Marin County (unincorporated) measures trunk diameter (DBH) at 54″ above the ground.

Unincorporated, non-agricultural, non-Coastal-Zone parcels only (Kentfield, Greenbrae, Strawberry, Tamalpais Valley, Lucas Valley, San Geronimo Valley, Santa Venetia, etc.).

Count rule: on a developed lot you may remove up to two protected trees in a one-year period without a permit if none is heritage size (18" oaks/madrone/willows, 30" other natives) and none is in a Stream or Wetland Conservation Area (22.62.040.J). Heritage trees, protected trees on vacant lots and trees in SCAs/WCAs need a Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Division.

No arborist report is mandated for the permit; the Director may require one and the code recommends one to document exemptions. Replacement or $500 per tree in lieu (22.27.040).

Tree Removal Permit fee (Planning Division Fee Schedule PDF not readable).

Coastal Zone exclusion and 3:1 replacement example come from the County fact sheet, which could not be opened.

Appeal procedure (Ch. 22.114 not read).

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 Marin County (unincorporated) require an arborist report?

Sometimes. Not mandated for a Tree Removal Permit application by Ch. 22.62 (applications follow Ch. 22.40 filing rules and the General Planning Permit Application). The code recommends one to document a 22.62.040 exemption: 'It is recommended that a property owner obtain a report from a licensed arborist or verify the status of the tree with photographs to document the applicability of the criteria listed above'; exemption B (pathogen or insect infestation threatening surrounding trees) applies 'as determined by an arborist report or other qualified professional'. The Director 'may conduct a site inspection and require a site plan or arborist's report to determine whether trees have been removed in violation of this chapter' (22.27.080). County decisions on design review/tree removal projects routinely rely on applicant arborist reports.

Who may write it: 22.130.030: 'Arborist. An arborist is: 1) a person currently certified by the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture as an expert on the care of trees; 2) a consulting arborist who satisfies the requirements of the American Society of Consulting Arborists; or 3) such other qualified professionals who the Director determines has gained through experience the qualifications to identify, remove or replace trees.'. None found

“It is recommended that a property owner obtain a report from a licensed arborist or verify the status of the tree with photographs to document the applicability of the criteria listed above to a tree which is considered for removal in compliance with this section.” municipal code
Need a report Marin County (unincorporated) will accept? Michael Schuck writes ISA Certified Arborist reports for permit applications, hazard claims and disputes across the Bay Area, including Marin County (unincorporated).
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How to get a tree removal permit in Marin County (unincorporated)

  1. Confirm the property is in the non-agricultural unincorporated county (not the Coastal Zone, where the County's coastal tree and vegetation removal rules apply instead) and that the tree is a native species on the 22.130.030 table at or above its protected size (6 inches DBH for oaks, madrone, Sargent cypress and willows; 10 inches for bay, redwood, Douglas-fir, maple, buckeye, alder and the other listed natives); 18 or 30 inches makes it a heritage tree. Non-native trees need no County permit. source
  2. Check the 22.62.040 exemptions: poor health unlikely to recover; pathogen or insect threat to surrounding trees (arborist report or other qualified professional); unremediable falling hazard; nuisance damage to foundations, walls, driveways, patios, sidewalks, decks or utilities; a Fire Inspector's fire-hazard identification; commercial tree enterprises; CC&R conflicts; commercial agriculture on A/ARP/APZ/C-ARP/C-APZ land; public-agency maintenance or fuel breaks; or, on a developed lot, no more than two protected (non-heritage) trees in one year outside a Stream or Wetland Conservation Area. Document the exemption with an arborist report or photographs as the code recommends; keep it on file for any 22.27.080 inspection. source
  3. If no exemption applies (heritage trees, a third or later protected tree within a year, trees in an SCA/WCA, protected trees on a vacant lot, or trees removed for development), file a Tree Removal Permit through the Planning Division using the General Planning Permit Application and the Planning Application Submittal Checklist, processed under Ch. 22.40 and the Section 22.40.050 initial review for discretionary permits; applications are available online and at the public service counter (22.62.030). source
  4. Pay the Planning Division Fee Schedule amount for a Tree Removal Permit (plus any 10% surcharge, Technology Fee and DPW/EHS review fees) when the application package is accepted; if the tree removal accompanies another planning permit (e.g., Design Review) the most expensive permit is charged in full and the others at half the Planning Fee. source
  5. The Director may approve or conditionally approve only on a finding that removal 'is necessary for the reasonable use and enjoyment of land under current zoning regulations and Countywide Plan and Community Plan ... policies and programs', considering interference with development, remaining trees, the number of healthy trees the site can support, soil stability and runoff, visual, privacy and wind-screen value, CEQA effects on listed species, and alternatives such as relocating improvements, retaining walls, pier-and-grade-beam foundations or permeable paving (22.62.050). The administrative decision is noticed under Ch. 22.118. source
  6. Comply with conditions under 22.27.040: replacement trees per Countywide Plan policies, the 22.26.040 landscaping objectives, the Single-Family Residential Design Guidelines and fire-district vegetation management requirements; for large properties a tree management plan; removal of invasive exotics; a bond for inspection; or, where planting is infeasible, $500.00 per replacement tree to the Tree Preservation Fund. source
TimelineNo tree-specific timeline in Ch. 22.62; processing follows Ch. 22.40 (application filing, initial review of discretionary permits) and Ch. 22.118 noticing of administrative decisions. County project pages show stand-alone Tree Removal Permits decided administratively.
“All Tree Removal Permit applications shall be completed, submitted, and processed in compliance with Chapter 22.40 (Application Filing and Processing, Fees) and Section 22.40.050 (Initial Application Review for Discretionary Permits).” source
AppealCh. 22.62 contains no appeal clause; Director decisions on Development Code permits are appealable under the Title 22 appeal procedures (Chapter 22.114 Appeals; not read) with the appeal fee from the Planning Division Fee Schedule. UNVERIFIED.
“Administrative decisions on a proposed Tree Removal Permit application shall be noticed in compliance with Chapter 22.118 (Notices, Public Hearings, and Administrative Actions).” source
Replacement22.27.040: the Director may require 'Establishment and maintenance of replacement trees in conformance with Countywide Plan policies, the Landscaping Objectives identified in section 22.26.040 ..., the Single-Family Residential Design Guidelines, and/or the vegetation management requirements of the Marin County Fire Department or local Fire Protection District'; a management plan for large properties; removal of invasive exotic species; an inspection bond; and 'In the event that tree planting on the site is not feasible or appropriate, the Director may require in lieu of planting on the specific property, the payment of money in the amount of $500.00 per replacement tree to be deposited into the Tree Preservation Fund managed by the Marin County Parks and Open Space Department'. No fixed ratio in the code (the County fact sheet, per search excerpts, describes conditions such as three replacement trees per tree removed; not verified). source
FormsTree Removal Permit Fact Sheet (Planning Division; PDF, not opened: host blocks fetchers) · Tree and Vegetation Removal in the Coastal Zone Fact Sheet (updated 12/15/23; not opened) · General Planning Permit Application · Planning Application Submittal Checklist · Planning Division Fee Schedule (November 2024, v7; not opened) · Planning Division Development Resources (fact sheet index)

Process verified October 21, 2026 against the city's code, forms and department pages.

Frequently asked questions about tree permits in Marin County (unincorporated)

Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in Marin County (unincorporated)?

Exempt from the permit under 22.62.040 if the tree meets any one criterion: 'A. The general health of the tree is so poor due to disease, damage, or age that efforts to ensure its long-term health and survival are unlikely to be successful; B. The tree is infected by a pathogen or attacked by insects that threaten surrounding trees as determined by an arborist report or other qualified professional; C. The tree is a potential public health and safety hazard due to the risk of its falling and its structural instability cannot be remedied; D. The tree is a public nuisance by causing damage to improvements ... ; E. The tree has been identified by a Fire Inspector as a fire hazard'. The code adds: 'It is recommended that a property owner obtain a report from a licensed arborist or verify the status of the tree with photographs to document the applicability of the criteria'. No County pre-approval step is written into the exemption; the Director may later require a site plan or arborist's report to determine whether trees were removed in violation (22.27.080).

What is the fine for removing a tree without a permit in Marin County (unincorporated)?

22.27.060: 'the Director may pursue an enforcement action in compliance with Chapter 22.122 (Enforcement of Development Code Provisions), and County Code Chapter 1.05 (Nuisance Abatement). The enforcement action may result in substantial fines for enforcement costs and civil penalties over and above any funds paid into the Tree Preservation Fund, the exact amount to be determined through the abatement process.' No per-tree fine schedule in the chapter; replacement at the Director's discretion (22.27.040) and in-lieu $500 per replacement tree.

How long does a tree removal permit take in Marin County (unincorporated)?

No tree-specific timeline in Ch. 22.62; processing follows Ch. 22.40 (application filing, initial review of discretionary permits) and Ch. 22.118 noticing of administrative decisions. County project pages show stand-alone Tree Removal Permits decided administratively.

Does Marin County (unincorporated) require an arborist report for a tree removal permit?

Sometimes required. Not mandated for a Tree Removal Permit application by Ch. 22.62 (applications follow Ch. 22.40 filing rules and the General Planning Permit Application). The code recommends one to document a 22.62.040 exemption: 'It is recommended that a property owner obtain a report from a licensed arborist or verify the status of the tree with photographs to document the applicability of the criteria listed above'; exemption B (pathogen or insect infestation threatening surrounding trees) applies 'as determined by an arborist report or other qualified professional'. The Director 'may conduct a site inspection and require a site plan or arborist's report to determine whether trees have been removed in violation of this chapter' (22.27.080). County decisions on design review/tree removal projects routinely rely on applicant arborist reports.

Can I remove a tree for fire safety in Marin County (unincorporated) without a permit?

Exempt from the permit when the conditions are met. A protected or heritage tree 'identified by a Fire Inspector as a fire hazard' may be removed without a Tree Removal Permit (22.62.040.E); public-agency fuel-break work is also exempt (22.62.040.I), and replacement conditions defer to fire-district vegetation management requirements (22.27.040.A).

How does Marin County (unincorporated) measure a tree for the permit threshold?

Trunk diameter (DBH) at 54 inches above grade. Diameter at breast height: 6" for native oaks, madrone, Sargent cypress and willows; 10" for bay, redwood, Douglas-fir, maple, buckeye, alders and the other listed natives. Heritage size is 18" and 30" respectively.

Tree permits in nearby cities

Belvedere · Corte Madera · Fairfax · Larkspur · Mill Valley · Novato · Ross · San Anselmo

Compare all 56 cities in the 56-city ordinance table, or run the permit checker.

Not sure what Marin County (unincorporated) 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.

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