Tree removal permit rules in Union City, CA — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Union City limits removal of significant trees. UCMC 12.16.170 makes it unlawful to remove a protected private tree without a Public Works permit, which may require replacement trees, and unauthorized removal triggers the tree's appraised value.
Under UCMC §12.16.170, removal of a protected tree is unlawful without a permit. Protected trees are residential trees of 35-inch trunk circumference or more (or multi-trunk totaling 70 inches), and 12-inch-circumference trees on commercial or vacant property or where removal relates to a zoning or subdivision approval. The Public Works Director (or the Planning Commission) decides each application against §12.16.170(G) standards: tree condition and hazard, erosion and drainage effects, neighborhood character, and parcel carrying capacity. As a condition of approval, the City may require replacement trees at the applicant's cost (§12.16.170(F)). Trees in a street, park, or public place fall under §12.16.120, requiring stump removal two feet below grade and debris cleanup. Orchard trees and hazardous-tree emergencies are exempt (§12.16.170(D)).
Unauthorized removal is a nuisance subject to civil abatement or injunction (UCMC §12.16.200(A)). The City may also assess the tree's comprehensive replacement value under the ISA Guide for Valuation of Landscape Trees (§12.16.200(B)), and remedies are cumulative (§12.16.210).
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle tree removal & heritage trees.
See how Union City's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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