Campbell Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide

Santa Clara County, California

Verified

Protected Tree Definition

12.0" DBH minimum for protection

Protected Tree: any tree with 38-inch circumference (~12 inches diameter) or greater at 4.5 feet above grade; all trees on public property and street trees regardless of size; Heritage/Significant Trees designated by Council.

Protected Species

Coast Live Oak Valley Oak Coast Redwood California Sycamore California Buckeye

Heritage / Landmark Trees

Significant/Heritage Trees designated by City Council for exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical association, or community value.

Permit Requirements

Tree Removal Permit required for any protected tree. Development projects require a Tree Preservation Plan and arborist report prepared by an ISA Certified Arborist.

Who can apply: Property owner or authorized agent with ISA Certified Arborist report

Required Report Sections

Tree inventory with species, DBH, canopy dripline, condition/health assessment, retention/removal status, replacement plan

Replacement Requirements

1:1 minimum; 2:1 or higher for Heritage/Significant Trees

15-gallon or 24-inch box replacement from approved species list. In-lieu fees to the Tree Preservation Fund when on-site replanting is infeasible.

Fees & Fines

Processing Time

4-6 weeks

Required Certifications

ISA Certified Arborist

Municipal Code

Campbell Municipal Code Chapter 21.32 (Tree Protection Regulations)

View full ordinance

Contact

Community Development Department

(408) 866-2140

Nearby Cities in Santa Clara County

Cupertino Los Gatos Mountain View Palo Alto

Other California cities

Beverly Hills Burbank Davis Fresno Menlo Park Palo Alto Simi Valley Thousand Oaks
See all California cities →

Compare with nearby cities

Data last verified: April 2026. This information is provided as a reference. Always verify requirements directly with Campbell before submitting permits or reports.

Ready to apply? How to apply for a permit in Campbell →

See California replacement obligations compared: How Campbell's replacement ratio ranks in California →

See California heritage criteria compared: How Campbell's heritage designation ranks in California →

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