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

04 of the Pacifica Municipal Code requires anyone who wants to remove a protected tree or City tree, as those terms are defined in Chapters 12 and 14 of Title 4, to apply in writing to the Director of Public Works and specify the number, species, diameter and exact location of each tree, the reason for removal, and any other information the City requires; the Director may also demand a plot plan or survey and, for any protected tree needing a permit, an arborist's report that includes an ISA basic tree risk assessment.

No regulated work may occur while the application is pending. Within fourteen calendar days the Director inspects the site and issues a proposed decision, weighing the tree's condition, disease or pest presence, risk to structures or utilities, whether removal is necessary for the property's economically viable use, the site's topography, and how many healthy trees the parcel can still support. Approval typically comes with mitigation conditions: on-site relocation recommended by a certified arborist and, for an otherwise healthy tree, replacement planting of at least two trees for every tree removed, plus payment of the mature tree's replacement value minus the cost of the replacement trees, capped at the tree's appraised value. Proposed decisions can be appealed to the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission within ten calendar days, and from there to the City Council.