Santa Clara Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide

Santa Clara County, California

Verified

Protected Tree Definition

12.0" DBH minimum for protection

Heritage Tree: any tree with 38-inch circumference (~12 inches diameter) or greater measured at 4.5 feet above grade, OR any tree designated by Council. All street trees and trees on public property are protected regardless of size.

Protected Species

All native oaks Coast Redwood California Sycamore California Buckeye (typically heritage-designated)

Heritage / Landmark Trees

Heritage Trees: any tree meeting the 38-inch circumference threshold, or designated by Council for exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical association, or community value.

Permit Requirements

Heritage Tree Removal Permit required for any Heritage Tree removal or relocation. Development projects must submit a Tree Preservation Plan and ISA Certified Arborist report.

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 inch-for-inch for heritage-size specimens

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

Santa Clara City Code Chapter 12.35 (Trees)

View full ordinance

Contact

Planning Division

Nearby Cities in Santa Clara County

Campbell Cupertino Los Gatos Mountain View

Other California cities

Berkeley Concord Fremont Fresno Hayward Long Beach Redwood City San Jose
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 Santa Clara before submitting permits or reports.

Ready to apply? How to apply for a permit in Santa Clara →

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

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

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