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

The director may inspect any tree on a public street, sidewalk, park, or private property to determine whether it is hazardous, blocks the view or progress of traffic, or damages utilities; if so, the director may order it trimmed or removed as a nuisance. 110(B) sets a hard size trigger: no tree with a trunk diameter of ten inches or more, or a canopy width of twenty-five feet or more, can be removed without a tree permit application signed by the property owner. If the owner won't sign, the director must advise that a written protest can be filed with the beautification advisory commission within ten days of the notice date, and under subsection (C), if a timely protest is filed, the tree cannot come down until the director gives the owner a hearing and the objection is not sustained.

140 requires the director to periodically prepare a tree removal program, mark each tree recommended for removal, and mail notice to the adjacent owner or agent unless the owner has already signed a permit requesting removal; even an approved removal must sit for at least ten days after notice to the beautification advisory commission chair so a representative can investigate, and the tree cannot come down sooner if the representative flags it for full commission review. 150, and an applicant who requests removal pays a council-set fee that funds the replacement planting, refunded in full if the removal application is denied.