Heritage & Protected Trees: Castro Valley vs San Leandro
How do heritage & protected trees rules compare between Castro Valley, CA and San Leandro, CA?
San Leandro has fewer restrictions than Castro Valley.
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County
California provides statewide protections for native oak woodlands and heritage trees through CEQA review, Public Resources Code, and Forest Practice Rules that apply uniformly.
View full Castro Valley rules →San Leandro, CA
Alameda County
San Leandro has no adopted heritage tree ordinance protecting large or historic trees on private property. A draft 'Protected Tree' ordinance defining trees of 18" diameter or greater has been pending since 2014 but is not yet law.
View full San Leandro rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Castro Valley | San Leandro |
|---|---|---|
| CEQA oak rule | PRC 21083.4 | - |
| Conservation Act | PRC 4799.06-4799.12 | - |
| Forest Practice Act | PRC 4511 et seq. | - |
| Civil penalty | Up to $10,000/day | - |
| Heritage tree ordinance adopted | - | No |
| Draft ordinance file | - | Legistar #14-190 (2014) |
| Proposed protected tree threshold | - | 18-inch diameter at breast height |
| General Plan reference | - | Policy 44.03 |
| Tree Master Plan adopted | - | January 6, 2025 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Castro Valley FAQ
Does California require permits to cut a backyard oak?
Not at the state level for individual residential trees. CEQA oak review applies to discretionary development projects, not routine private removals, though many cities require permits.
What counts as oak woodland under PRC 21083.4?
An oak stand with greater than 10% canopy cover that includes one or more native oak species, as defined by the statute.
San Leandro FAQ
Can my neighbor cut down a 100-year-old oak on their property?
Yes. San Leandro has no adopted heritage tree ordinance protecting private trees regardless of size, age, or species. The draft Protected Tree ordinance has been pending Council action since 2014.
Is San Leandro planning to adopt a heritage tree ordinance?
The City Council adopted a Tree Master Plan on January 6, 2025, that commits to reviewing tree ordinances to strengthen preservation policies, but as of June 2026 no heritage tree ordinance has been enacted.
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