Tree Permits in Moraga
Moraga requires a permit to remove native tree at 5″; orchard tree planted for commercial agriculture at 5″; council-designated tree of historic significance at 5″. Measured as trunk diameter (DBH) at 36″ above grade. Arborist report required in some cases. Permit fee from $280. Verified October 21, 2026.
Last verified · fees checked · Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A, ISA Certified Urban Forest Professional WE-15750AF
Moraga tree ordinance at a glance
| Code section | MMC Title 12, Chapter 12.12 Tree Preservation, secs. 12.12.010-12.12.170 (Ord. 182 sec. 2, 2000; Ord. 256, 10/14/2015; Municode version June 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Protected trees | A 'tree' is a live woody plant with a single trunk diameter of 5" or more measured 3 ft above natural grade, or multiple trunks with a total perimeter of 40" or more measured 3 ft above natural grade (12.12.020). Four classes: general, native, orchard, historic. A permit is required only to cut down, destroy or remove a NATIVE tree (native to California and indigenous to the Moraga area; 'the most common being the bay, oak, redwood, toyan and the knobcone pine'; the Planning Department's Native Tree List has 48 taxa including big leaf maple, box elder, buckeye, alders, madrone, chinquapin, ashes, Sargent cypress, black walnut, knobcone/Coulter/gray pine, sycamore, cottonwoods, cherries, 11 oaks, willows, elderberries, coast redwood, California bay), an ORCHARD tree (fruit or nut trees planted for commercial agricultural purposes) or a tree of HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE designated by the Town Council (12.12.030). Exempt: general (non-native) trees on residentially zoned property; any tree located five feet or closer to a structure; right-of-way trees deemed a hazard by the Public Works Director or Town Manager. |
| Size threshold | 5" trunk diameter at 3 ft (36") above natural grade, or multi-trunk total perimeter 40" at 3 ft; native, orchard and Council-designated historic trees only Measured at THREE feet above natural grade, not 54". Single trunk: diameter 5" or more. Multiple trunks: 'a total perimeter of forty (40) inches or more' (a circumference sum). Smaller native trees are not 'trees' under the chapter and need no permit. |
| Multi-trunk trees | 12.12.020: a tree 'having multiple trunks' qualifies with 'a total perimeter of forty (40) inches or more measured three feet above the natural grade' (sum of trunk circumferences at 3 ft). |
| Dead or hazardous trees | 12.12.050 Emergency tree removal: 'In case of emergency caused by a tree being in a hazardous, dangerous or diseased condition requiring immediate action for the safety of structures or human life, such tree may be removed on the oral permission of the town manager or the staff person designated by the town manager, without formal application.' The Town Manager may also order removal of such a tree at the owner's expense on the recommendation of the planning, parks or public works director. Dead or diseased native trees that are not an immediate emergency go through the normal permit; the Planning Director decides on tree condition and 'may require an arborist report if the health and/or safety of a tree is in question' (12.12.040). Any tree within 5 ft of a structure is exempt (12.12.030(B)). |
| Fire-safety removals | No special treatment. Chapter 12.12 has no fire-hazard exemption or criterion; only the emergency clause (immediate danger to structures or life, oral Town Manager permission) and the exemption for any tree within five feet of a structure apply. source · all cities |
| Permit fee (FY 2025-26) | FY 2025-26 & FY 2026-27 Master Fee Schedule (effective August 11, 2025), Planning Department: Tree Removal Permit $280 per tree; Tree Removal Fine $1,115 per tree; Appeal of Town Manager Decision regarding Tree Removal Permit $230 flat fee. 'A 10% Advanced Planning Surcharge is applied to all Planning's Staff Services and all Flat Fees.' Application form: all credit card transactions incur a 4% processing fee; no application is deemed submitted until the fee is received. Code 12.12.130 still states a $150 appeal fee to the Town Council (fee schedule $230 governs in practice). 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. Paper application to the Planning Director (Standard Planning Application plus Tree Removal supplemental, site plan, photos); Director decides with no notice, posting or hearing; $280 per tree. Have it filed. |
| Penalties for removal without a permit | 12.12.150(B): 'A person who violates the provisions of Section 12.12.030 shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each tree removed without obtaining the proper permit, and may be required to plant replacement trees in a ratio determined by the planning director.' Master Fee Schedule: Tree Removal Fine $1,115 per tree. Violations may also be prosecuted under Ch. 1.28 administrative citations, other civil and criminal remedies (12.12.150(C)), nuisance abatement under Ch. 7.16, and 12.12.170 misdemeanor (which cross-references the repealed 12.12.160). |
| Arborist report | Sometimes required. Code: 'The planning director may require an arborist report if the health and/or safety of a tree is in question.' (12.12.040). Development: 'When proposed developments or construction may encroach into the dripline of any regulated tree, an arborist report shall be prepared.' (12.12.070); Town FAQ: a pool within the dripline of a native tree over 5" diameter at 3 ft needs an arborist report. The Tree Removal Permit Supplemental Application lists 'Arborist Report' with Site Plan and Photographs under 'Required Supporting Information (include as separate attachments)' as checkbox items, so staff may treat it as a standard attachment; confirm with Planning before filing without one. Who may write it: Not defined in Chapter 12.12 ('an arborist report'); the application form does not specify credentials |
| Who to call | Town of Moraga Planning Department, 329 Rheem Boulevard, Moraga, CA 94556; (925) 888-7040; planning@moraga.ca.us; fax (925) 376-5203 · official page |
- : Fee schedule updated (FY 2025-26): FY 2025-26 & FY 2026-27 Master Fee Schedule (effective August 11, 2025), Planning Department: Tree Removal Permit $280 per tree; Tree Removal Fine $1,115 per tree;…
Sources: library.municode.com · moraga.ca.us. Urban Forestry Guide is not a city line; for Moraga permit questions use the department above.
Does my tree need a permit in Moraga?
A permit is required when the tree is protected and meets the size rule. Moraga measures trunk diameter (DBH) at 36″ above the ground.
- Native tree (oaks, bay, redwood, buckeye, madrone, big leaf maple, box elder, alders, willows, knobcone/Coulter/gray pine, sycamore, cottonwoods, black walnut, elderberry, Sargent cypress, ashes, toyon): protected at 5″ diameter
- Orchard tree planted for commercial agriculture: protected at 5″ diameter
- Council-designated tree of historic significance: protected at 5″ diameter
- Any tree within 5 feet of a structure: exempt. Exempt regardless of species or size: "The removal of a tree located five feet or closer to a structure" (12.12.030(B)).
- Multi-trunk trees: add the circumferences of all trunks at 3 ft above natural grade; 40" total perimeter or more makes it a regulated tree (12.12.020).
Only native, orchard and historic trees need a permit; non-native trees on residential lots do not. Any tree within 5 ft of a structure is exempt.
Fee $280 per tree (Master Fee Schedule effective 8/11/2025); fine $1,115 per tree. Appeal to the Town Manager is free; to the Town Council $230 (code text says $150).
Arborist report at the Planning Director's discretion when health or safety is in question (12.12.040); the application form lists it as a supporting attachment.
Whether non-native trees on non-residential property need a permit.
Whether the 10% Advanced Planning Surcharge is added to the $280 fee.
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 Moraga require an arborist report?
Sometimes. Code: 'The planning director may require an arborist report if the health and/or safety of a tree is in question.' (12.12.040). Development: 'When proposed developments or construction may encroach into the dripline of any regulated tree, an arborist report shall be prepared.' (12.12.070); Town FAQ: a pool within the dripline of a native tree over 5" diameter at 3 ft needs an arborist report. The Tree Removal Permit Supplemental Application lists 'Arborist Report' with Site Plan and Photographs under 'Required Supporting Information (include as separate attachments)' as checkbox items, so staff may treat it as a standard attachment; confirm with Planning before filing without one.
Who may write it: Not defined in Chapter 12.12 ('an arborist report'); the application form does not specify credentials. None found
“The planning director may require an arborist report if the health and/or safety of a tree is in question.” municipal code
How to get a tree removal permit in Moraga
- Classify the tree: a permit is needed only for a native tree (Planning Department Native Tree List: oaks, bay, redwood, buckeye, madrone, big leaf maple, alders, willows, knobcone/Coulter/gray pine, sycamore, cottonwoods, black walnut, elderberries, etc.), an orchard tree planted for commercial agriculture, or a Council-designated historic tree, and only if it has a single trunk 5 inches or more in diameter at 3 feet above natural grade or multiple trunks totaling 40 inches of perimeter at 3 feet. General trees on residential lots and any tree within 5 feet of a structure are exempt (12.12.020, 12.12.030). source
- File the Standard Planning Application plus the Tree Removal Permit Supplemental Application with the Planning Director (329 Rheem Blvd or planning@moraga.ca.us): species and number of trees, classification, a site plan marking each tree with an X, photographs, an arborist report where required, and answers to the condition questions (disease, health, damage, nuisance, danger of falling, proximity to structures, utility interference, good forestry practice). source
- Pay the Tree Removal Permit fee of $280 per tree (Master Fee Schedule effective 8/11/2025; a 10% Advanced Planning Surcharge applies to flat fees; 4% credit-card fee); the application is not deemed submitted or reviewed until the fee is received. source
- The Planning Director decides on the 12.12.040 standards: tree condition (disease, health, damage, nuisance, danger of falling, proximity to structures, utility interference), host for parasites, good forestry practice, species, erosion and drainage effects, and neighborhood tree density; may require an arborist report; may impose reasonable conditions (replacement planting) or deny with the basis specified (12.12.030, 12.12.040). source
- Appeal: file a written notice of appeal with the Town Manager within 10 days of the decision; appeal to the Town Manager is free; a further appeal to the Town Council costs $150 under 12.12.130 ($230 flat fee on the current Master Fee Schedule); any Council member may call a decision up for review at no fee (12.12.130, 12.12.140). source
- Emergencies: a tree in a hazardous, dangerous or diseased condition requiring immediate action for the safety of structures or human life may be removed on the oral permission of the Town Manager or designee without a formal application (12.12.050). Trees shown for removal on an approved subdivision grading plan or on a building permit application are removed under that approval (12.12.110, 12.12.120). source
| Timeline | No processing time is published in Chapter 12.12, on the application or the Town FAQ. Appeals must be filed within 10 days of the decision. “A person desiring to appeal a decision shall file notice of appeal in writing with the town manager within ten (10) days after the date of the decision being appealed.” source |
|---|---|
| Appeal | Planning Director decision may be appealed to the Town Manager at no cost, then to the Town Council on payment of a fee (code: $150; Master Fee Schedule: 'Appeal of Town Manager Decision regarding Tree Removal Permit $230 Flat Fee'); written notice within 10 days stating facts and grounds; hearing procedure per 1.16.010. A Council member may request Council review without fee (12.12.140). “The planning director's decision regarding a request for a tree removal permit, may be appealed to the town manager at no cost, the person aggrieved by the action may appeal the decision to the town council upon payment of a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).” source |
| Replacement | No fixed ratio in Chapter 12.12. The Planning Director 'may impose reasonable conditions' on a permit (12.12.030) and may require replacement trees 'in a ratio determined by the planning director' after unpermitted removal (12.12.150(B)). ADU projects (MMC 8.124) require 1:1 replacement of removed native or orchard trees with a 15-gallon tree of the same genus and species (per the Town's ADU materials; chapter not read). source |
| Forms | Tree Removal Permit Supplemental Application (with Native Tree List) · Standard Planning Application · Planning Applications and forms page · FY 2025-26 & FY 2026-27 Master Fee Schedule (effective August 11, 2025) · Planning Appeal Application · Town FAQ: Are permits required for tree removal? |
Process verified October 21, 2026 against the city's code, forms and department pages.
Frequently asked questions about tree permits in Moraga
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in Moraga?
12.12.050 Emergency tree removal: 'In case of emergency caused by a tree being in a hazardous, dangerous or diseased condition requiring immediate action for the safety of structures or human life, such tree may be removed on the oral permission of the town manager or the staff person designated by the town manager, without formal application.' The Town Manager may also order removal of such a tree at the owner's expense on the recommendation of the planning, parks or public works director. Dead or diseased native trees that are not an immediate emergency go through the normal permit; the Planning Director decides on tree condition and 'may require an arborist report if the health and/or safety of a tree is in question' (12.12.040). Any tree within 5 ft of a structure is exempt (12.12.030(B)).
What is the fine for removing a tree without a permit in Moraga?
12.12.150(B): 'A person who violates the provisions of Section 12.12.030 shall be subject to an administrative fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for each tree removed without obtaining the proper permit, and may be required to plant replacement trees in a ratio determined by the planning director.' Master Fee Schedule: Tree Removal Fine $1,115 per tree. Violations may also be prosecuted under Ch. 1.28 administrative citations, other civil and criminal remedies (12.12.150(C)), nuisance abatement under Ch. 7.16, and 12.12.170 misdemeanor (which cross-references the repealed 12.12.160).
How long does a tree removal permit take in Moraga?
No processing time is published in Chapter 12.12, on the application or the Town FAQ. Appeals must be filed within 10 days of the decision.
Does Moraga require an arborist report for a tree removal permit?
Sometimes required. Code: 'The planning director may require an arborist report if the health and/or safety of a tree is in question.' (12.12.040). Development: 'When proposed developments or construction may encroach into the dripline of any regulated tree, an arborist report shall be prepared.' (12.12.070); Town FAQ: a pool within the dripline of a native tree over 5" diameter at 3 ft needs an arborist report. The Tree Removal Permit Supplemental Application lists 'Arborist Report' with Site Plan and Photographs under 'Required Supporting Information (include as separate attachments)' as checkbox items, so staff may treat it as a standard attachment; confirm with Planning before filing without one.
Can I remove a tree for fire safety in Moraga without a permit?
No special treatment in the ordinance. Chapter 12.12 has no fire-hazard exemption or criterion; only the emergency clause (immediate danger to structures or life, oral Town Manager permission) and the exemption for any tree within five feet of a structure apply.
How does Moraga measure a tree for the permit threshold?
Trunk diameter (DBH) at 36 inches above grade. Diameter at 3 ft (36") above natural grade: 5" single trunk, or 40" total perimeter for multiple trunks. Native, orchard and Council-designated historic trees only.
Tree permits in nearby cities
Contra Costa County (unincorporated) · Danville · Lafayette · Orinda · Pleasant Hill · Walnut Creek
Compare all 56 cities in the 56-city ordinance table, or run the permit checker.
Not sure what Moraga 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.