Oakland, CA Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Coast Live Oak threshold
- 4 inches dbh
- All other protected species
- 9 inches dbh
- Not protected
- Eucalyptus (any size)
- Monterey Pine
- Protected on city property only
- Dbh measured
- 4.5 feet above ground
Summary
Oakland protects Coast Live Oaks four inches or more in trunk diameter and every other tree species nine inches or larger, with narrow exceptions for Eucalyptus and Monterey Pine. Removing a covered tree anywhere in the city, on private or public land, requires a tree removal permit under Municipal Code Chapter 12.36.
"Protected tree" means a protected tree for the purpose of this chapter is the following: 1. On any property, Quercus agrifolia (California or Coast Live Oak) measuring four inches dbh or larger, and any other tree measuring nine inches dbh or larger except Eucalyptus and Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine); 2. Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) trees shall be protected only on city property and in development-related situations where more than five Monterey Pine trees per acre are proposed to be removed. Although Monterey Pine trees are not protected in non-development-related situations, nor in development-related situations involving five or fewer trees per acre, public posting of such trees and written notice of proposed tree removal to the Office of Parks and Recreation is required per Section 12.36.070A and Section 12.36.080A. 3. Except as noted above, Eucalyptus and Monterey Pine trees are not protected by this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Planning Code: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
020 defines exactly which trees Oakland protects. Any Quercus agrifolia (California or Coast Live Oak) measuring four inches or more in trunk diameter at breast height (dbh) is protected, as is any other tree species, except Eucalyptus and Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine), measuring nine inches dbh or larger. Dbh is measured four and one-half feet above the ground, and for a multistemmed tree, a permit is required once the combined diameter of all trunks reaches the species' minimum. 080(A). Eucalyptus is not protected under any circumstance.
The chapter defines "tree" broadly as any woody perennial reaching at least eight feet in height at maturity, and protects the ground beneath a covered tree's canopy, its "protected perimeter," extending to the branch drip line or farther if the Office of Parks and Recreation determines a greater buffer is needed to prevent root damage.
Violations & Fines
Cutting down, girdling, poisoning, or "topping", removing twenty-five percent or more of the trunk or main leader, a protected species without a permit violates Section 12.36.040 and is enforced as an infraction under Section 12.36.150(B). A violator remains liable for the city's investigation and enforcement costs and must supply replacement trees or fees, capped at the removed tree's appraised value under International Society of Arboriculture criteria (Section 12.36.150(D)-(E)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which trees does Oakland protect from removal?
Are eucalyptus trees protected under Oakland's tree ordinance?
How is trunk diameter measured for Oakland's protected-tree rules?
What counts as a 'tree' under Oakland's protection ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oakland
California rules heatmap·Compare Oakland to another location·View the California tree protection overview
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle protected tree species.