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

Sec. 27(a) is the operative rule: no one may cut down, destroy, remove or relocate a heritage tree, and any construction of improvements within its drip line also needs a permit under the article. The six exemptions in Sec. 27(b) are narrow: storm, flood, earthquake or fire damage confirmed dangerous by a peace officer, firefighter, civil defense official or code enforcement officer (with notice to the director within five (5) days); removal necessary during active firefighting; city employees acting in an emergency on city property; a public utility complying with Public Utilities Commission safety rules; removal from the landfill area, including the Shoreline golf course, when the public works director or the director finds it necessary for operations; and any tree the city's arborist has determined is dead.

Everyone else must apply through one of two tracks under Sec. 28: a development-related removal, filed with the community development department and processed alongside the underlying development permit under Sec. 29, including wrapping the tree in yellow tape and posting notice five (5) days before the hearing; or a nondevelopment-related removal, filed with the community services department and decided by the director under Sec. 30. A removal permit is valid for two (2) years and expires when its underlying permit expires. Anyone aggrieved by a decision can appeal to the city clerk within ten (10) calendar days and pay the council-set appeal fee; development-related appeals go to the city council, nondevelopment-related appeals to the urban forestry board, and filing an appeal automatically stays the permit.