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

San Ramon enforces tree protection under Municipal Code Chapter D2 Article 50 (Tree Preservation Ordinance). Protected trees include native species such as coast live oak, valley oak, blue oak, California black oak, California bay laurel, California buckeye, and western sycamore, as well as designated heritage trees, with protection typically triggered at 8 inches trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) for native oaks and 12 inches for other protected species. Any removal, severe pruning, or construction activity affecting the critical root zone of a protected tree requires a Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Services Division. Applications require a certified arborist's report for larger trees and may include replacement planting or in-lieu fee conditions. Dead, dying, or hazardous trees may be removed more readily with a streamlined hazard determination, typically supported by an ISA-certified arborist's hazard tree evaluation. Unpermitted removal is a municipal code violation subject to fines typically $1,000+ per tree plus mandatory replacement at ratios often 2:1 or 3:1 with 24-inch box or larger specimens. During development review, tree surveys are required for the project site, and protected trees must be incorporated into site plans or mitigated. Trees within the public right-of-way (street trees) are city-owned and require a Public Works tree removal permit; homeowners cannot remove or prune them without authorization. HOAs may impose additional tree protection standards.