Alameda, CA Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Tree removal in the incorporated City of Alameda is regulated by Alameda Municipal Code Section 13-21.7 (Interim Review), part of the City's Historical Preservation article. Subsection (c) states that no protected tree shall be removed without the approval of a Certificate of Approval from the Historical Advisory Board. Protected trees are specifically defined as: the palm trees in the public right-of-way on Burbank Street and Portola Avenue; any street tree on Thompson and Central Avenues; and any Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) with a ten-inch or greater diameter measured four and one-half feet above the ground. An applicant must submit an arborist's report when the tree's health is the basis for removal, or a contractor's report when damage to a foundation or other structure is the reason. Replacement is mandatory: any protected street tree must be replaced at the applicant's expense to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director, and any oak tree must be replaced with a minimum of two oak trees of ten-gallon size or larger to the satisfaction of the Planning and Building Director. For City-owned street trees in the right-of-way generally, removal is handled by Public Works under the City's tree-removal policy. Trees that are not protected and are on private property are not subject to a City-wide removal permit unless they are designated or part of a historic resource.