Tree Protection in Mountain View, CA

If you live in Mountain View or are thinking about moving there, tree protection are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Mountain View has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of tree protection, and some of them might surprise you.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Mountain View requires every owner of a heritage tree, generally one with a 48-inch trunk circumference, to keep it healthy and forbids injuring, damaging, destroying, moving or removing it without a city permit. City Code Sec. 32.25 places that maintenance duty and removal ban directly on property owners, backed by a council-designation process under Sec. 32.24 for trees of special historical or community value.

Key details: Owner duty: Maintain heritage tree in good health. Removal without permit: Prohibited (Sec. 32.25(b)). Council designation notice: 10 days before decision. Construction buffer: No grading within 4 feet of trunk. Oversight body: Urban Forestry Board.

A willful, unpermitted injury to or removal of a heritage tree is a misdemeanor under Sec. 32.38, punishable as set forth in the City Charter, and separately triggers restitution: the responsible party must plant a replacement tree, sized at least a twenty-four inch (24") box, or pay a fee in lieu of replacement, valued under the International Society of Arboriculture's standards per Sec. 32.39. Failing to keep an existing heritage tree in good health is itself a violation under Sec. 32.25(a).

This is one of the stricter rules in Mountain View's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Parkway Planting

Mountain View plants and regulates every tree and shrub in its parkway strips through a citywide master street tree plan. City Code Sec. 32.4 requires the director of parks and recreation to draft the plan and the parks and recreation commission to adopt or amend it, fixing the type, form and location of official street trees, with a copy kept on file at the city clerk's office.

Key details: Governing plan: Master street tree plan (Sec. 32.4). Planting permit: Required for all street tree work. Permit validity: Void after 30 days. Parkway shrub height cap: 12 inches (Sec. 32.16(g)). Enforcing official: Director of Parks and Recreation.

Interfering with the director of parks and recreation or crew members carrying out Sec. 32.6 permitted work is unlawful under Sec. 32.7, as is fouling soil around a parkway tree with oil, dye or other deleterious substances, or capping roots with cement, under Sec. 32.9. Nuisances under Sec. 32.16 that go unabated let the city council order removal at the owner's expense; unpaid costs draw six (6) percent annual interest and, after thirty (30) days, a ten (10) percent delinquency penalty recorded as a lien on the property under Sec. 32.18.

Protected Tree Species

Mountain View extends heritage tree protection to native oak, redwood and cedar trees at a fraction of the size required for other species. City Code Sec. 32.23(c) defines a "heritage tree" generally as one with a 48-inch trunk circumference, but any quercus (oak), sequoia (redwood) or cedrus (cedar) qualifies at just twelve (12) inches, both measured 54 inches above natural grade.

Key details: Standard heritage threshold: 48-inch trunk circumference. Oak/redwood/cedar threshold: 12-inch trunk circumference. Measurement height: 54 inches above natural grade. Removal without permit: Misdemeanor (Sec. 32.38). Minimum replacement size: 24-inch box tree.

Removing or injuring a protected oak, redwood or cedar of qualifying size without a permit is a misdemeanor under Sec. 32.38, punishable as set forth in the City Charter. The violator also owes restitution: a replacement tree of at least a twenty-four inch (24") box size, or a fee in lieu of planting, calculated under the International Society of Arboriculture's tree-valuation standards per Sec. 32.39.

This is one of the stricter rules in Mountain View's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Mountain View is tougher than many cities when it comes to tree protection. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Mountain View, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Mountain View can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.