Redwood City, CA Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits (2026)

Chapter 8.400 (Ordinance No. 4895, adopted October 22, 2024) consolidated the County's former Significant Tree and Heritage Tree ordinances. A Protected Tree Removal Permit, or a faster Expedited Tree Removal Permit, is required to remove any Protected Tree (Sections 8.400.060-8.400.070). Permit Exemptions (Section 8.400.100) include: timber-harvesting work; emergency removal of an imminent hazard to safety/property as determined by the Director of Planning and Building under Section 8.400.230; forest-health/fire-prevention Public Works projects approved by the Coastal Commission; defensible-space work in the SRA/LRA High or Very High Fire Hazard zone identified by CAL FIRE, the County Fire Marshal, or local fire authority; County Parks/Public Works/utility work; and removal/pruning of specific fire-risk taxa - eucalyptus, pines, acacia, tanoak, and California bay laurel - whose trunk is within 100 feet of a habitable structure (including on adjacent property) or within 30 feet of a road needed for emergency evacuation, but that fire-species exemption does not apply if the tree is 38 inches DSH or larger. Separately, the County extended a permit exemption for removing hazardous trees (eucalyptus, pines, acacia, tanoak, bay) in the Coastal Zone of the unincorporated County, in effect through July 1, 2026; redwoods, Douglas firs, true oaks (except tanoak), maples, and buckeyes still need a permit even if hazardous. Approved removals require replacement planting under Table 2 (Section 8.400.160), maintained three years. Indicative fees: about $670 (removal), $430 (expedited), with 1-2 month processing.