Alameda, CA Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

The City of Alameda's tree-removal permitting authority sits in its Historical Preservation article, Alameda Municipal Code Section 13-21.7 (Interim Review). Subsection (c) provides that no protected tree shall be removed without approval of a Certificate of Approval from the Historical Advisory Board. The protected categories are specifically: the palm trees in the public right-of-way on Burbank Street and Portola Avenue; any street tree on Thompson and Central Avenues; and any Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) with a ten-inch or greater diameter measured four and one-half feet above the ground. To apply, a property owner must submit an arborist's report when the health of the tree is the reason for removal, or a contractor's report when damage to a foundation or other structure is the reason. The Historical Advisory Board reviews the request and may approve it with or without conditions; appeals go to the City Council. Replacement is required: any protected street tree must be replaced at the applicant's expense to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director, and any oak must be replaced with a minimum of two oak trees of ten-gallon size or larger to the satisfaction of the Planning and Building Director. Separately, City-owned street trees in the right-of-way are removed by Public Works under the City's administrative tree-removal policy, and removal of a street tree as part of a development project must be identified on the planning-permit application for notification and approval before the permit is processed.