Sunnyvale 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; all oaks, redwoods, cedars, native bay, and native buckeye at any size; all street trees and trees on public property regardless of size.

Protected Species

Coast Live Oak Valley Oak Coast Redwood Incense Cedar Deodar Cedar California Bay California Buckeye (all sizes); all other species at 12-inch threshold

Heritage / Landmark Trees

Heritage Trees designated by Council for exceptional size, age, species rarity, historical association, or community value; automatic designation for specific native species at any size.

Permit Requirements

Tree Removal Permit required for any protected tree. Development projects require a Tree Preservation Plan and ISA Certified Arborist report. Appeals heard by Heritage Preservation Commission.

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

Required Report Sections

Tree inventory with species, DBH, canopy dripline, health/condition, impact analysis, tree protection measures, replacement plan

Replacement Requirements

1:1 minimum; 2:1 or higher for Heritage Trees and specimen natives

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

Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 19.94 (Tree Preservation)

View full ordinance

Contact

Department of Public Works

Nearby Cities in Santa Clara County

Campbell Cupertino Los Gatos Mountain View

Other California cities

Campbell Elk Grove Irvine San Diego Santa Cruz Stockton Thousand Oaks Walnut Creek
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 Sunnyvale before submitting permits or reports.

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

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

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

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