Redwood City, CA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Sec. 2 lets the Commission declare a heritage tree without regard to the 38-inch trunk-circumference threshold that otherwise defines a protected tree under Sec. 1. Three conditions must all be met before a discretionary finding is possible: the tree must be healthy and well-adapted to the local climate, and it must be visually accessible from a public right-of-way. On top of those, the Commission must find at least one of three qualifying facts: the tree has historical significance, it is indigenous to the area, or it belongs to a group of trees that depend on one another for survival, meaning removing one threatens the rest.

Because the definition of "tree" in Sec. 1 folds heritage designation directly into the chapter's coverage, a designated heritage tree is automatically subject to the same cutting and removal permit requirement in Sec. 3 as a size-qualifying tree, regardless of the tree's actual trunk size. An owner seeking to remove a heritage tree must apply to the Parks and Recreation Director, who investigates within 10 days of the application and weighs disease, structural danger, interference with utilities or proposed construction, effects on erosion and drainage, the number of healthy trees the neighborhood can support, and good forestry practice before deciding (Sec. 4). The Director gives priority to applications involving hazardous or diseased trees.