Tree removal in Contra Costa County

Any tree whose condition creates a hazardous situation which requires immediate action as determined by the director, building inspector, sheriff, involved fire district or a utility company to protect its facilities.

Any tree whose removal was specifically approved as a part of an approved development plan, subdivision, other discretionary project or a building permit.

Routine pruning not involving topping or tree removal.

Any person proposing to trench, grade or fill within the dripline of any protected tree or cut down, destroy, trim by topping or remove any protected tree shall apply to the department for a tree permit, not less than ten days prior to the proposed tree removal or tree alterations.

Where the tree to be cut down, destroyed or trimmed by topping is adjacent to or part of a riparian, foothill woodland or oak savanna area, or part of a stand of four or more trees, measures twenty inches or larger in circumference (approximately 6.5 inches in diameter) as measured four and one-half feet from ground level, and is included in the following list of indigenous trees:

Any tree shown to be preserved on an approved tentative map, development or site plan or required to be retained as a condition of approval;

Any tree required to be planted as a replacement for an unlawfully removed tree.

Any tree measuring twenty inches or larger in circumference (approximately six and one-half inches diameter), measured four and one-half feet from ground level including the oak trees listed above;

Any multistemmed tree with the sum of the circumferences measuring forty inches or larger, measured four and one-half feet from ground level;

And any significant grouping of trees, including groves of four or more trees.