Tree removal in Saratoga: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Saratoga Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Saratoga's code says

Saratoga code What Saratoga's code adds
Exemptions	No permit fee is required. Applies: Removing a fallen or dead tree, or a tree for defensible space in the Wildland Urban Interface or ember-resistant zone, if replacement requirements are met. § 15-50.070 · code text No fee shall be required for a permit to remove a fallen or dead tree or for a tree species and location identified in Section 15-50.080(a)(11) or(12) provided that tree replacement requirements as a condition of the tree removal permit are met. The permit may be issued without neighbor notice or an appeal period. Applies: Applies to a dead tree, a tree with its main trunk within 5 feet of a building, or a tree in an ember-resistant zone. § 15-50.070 · code text the Community Development Director may waive notification of neighbors and may issue a permit without any right of appeal or any appeal period prior to the exercise of the permit. A permit may always be granted. Applies: Applies to removing a Monterey pine or blue gum in the Wildland Urban Interface Area. § 15-50.080 · code text a tree removal permit may always be granted for the removal of a Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) or blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) located within the Wildland Urban Interface Area.
Permit to remove	Yes. A permit is required. Applies: Applies to removing, damaging, pruning or encroaching on any protected tree on private or public property. § 15-50.050 · code text it is unlawful for any person to remove, damage, prune, or encroach upon, or cause to be removed, damaged, pruned, or encroached upon any protected tree, located on any private or public property in the City without first having obtained a tree removal, pruning or encroachment permit Yes. A permit is required. Applies: Applies to structural pruning of more than 25% of a protected tree's canopy within 2 years. § 15-50.070 · code text A permit is required for structural pruning in excess of twenty-five percent of the canopy of any protected tree within a two-year period. No permit is required. Applies: Structural pruning of less than 25% of the canopy of trees on the owner's own property, following ISA Pruning Standards. § 15-50.070 · code text No permit is required for structural pruning of less than twenty-five percent of the canopy of trees on an owner's own property which complies with ISA Pruning Standards. No permit is required. Applies: Applies to pruning productive agricultural trees. § 15-50.070 · code text No permit is required for the pruning of productive agricultural trees. Yes. A tree encroachment permit is required. Applies: Applies to encroaching on a protected tree when no Planning or Building Division permit is needed for the work. § 15-50.070 · code text Where no Planning Division or Building Division permit is needed for work near a tree, but a protected tree will be encroached upon, a tree encroachment permit is required from the Community Development Department.
Protected trees	Any native tree with a trunk diameter of 6 inches or more. § 15-50.050 · code text Any native tree having a DBH of six inches or greater Any other tree with a trunk diameter of 10 inches or more. § 15-50.050 · code text Any other tree having a DBH of ten inches or greater. Any street tree, of any size. Applies: Applies to street trees. § 15-50.050 · code text Any street tree, as defined in Section 15-50.020(v), regardless of size. Any heritage tree, of any size. Applies: Applies to heritage trees. § 15-50.050 · code text Any heritage tree, as defined in subsection 15-50.020(n) regardless of size. Any tree required to be planted or kept as a condition of a city approval. Applies: Applies to trees required to be planted or kept as an approval condition. § 15-50.050 · code text Any tree required to be planted or retained as a condition of any approval granted under this Chapter or Chapter 14 of this Code. Any tree required to be planted as a replacement. Applies: Applies to replacement trees. § 15-50.050 · code text Any tree required to be planted as a replacement, as provided in Section 15-50.170 of this Article.
Replacement trees	No removal until solar panels are installed and replacement trees planted as the City Arborist recommends. Applies: Applies to removal for installing and efficiently running solar panels. § 15-50.080 · code text the tree(s) to be removed, shall not be removed until solar panels have been installed and replacement trees planted in conformance with the City Arborist's recommendation. Replacement trees on or off site must give equal value in beauty, environment, size, height, location and appearance. Applies: Applies to lawfully removed trees that must be replaced as a condition of development approval. § 15-50.140 · code text Trees replaced on or off site according to good forestry practices, shall provide, in the opinion of the Community Development Director, equivalent value in terms of aesthetic and environmental quality, size, height, location, appearance, and other significant beneficial characteristics of the removed tree/s May be limited to 2 trees for each tree removed. Applies: Wildland Urban Interface Area properties, where the replacement trees give equal value when mature. § 15-50.140 · code text tree replacement requirements for properties located within the Wildland Urban Interface Area may be limited to two trees for each removed tree Replacement trees, moving the tree, or a Tree Fund fee or bond may be required, at the applicant's cost. Applies: Tree removal permit granted with conditions. The Director sets replacement species, size and location. § 15-50.080 · code text Any such tree replacement, relocation, fee payment, or bonding or security deposit shall be at the sole expense of the applicant.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Saratoga?

Saratoga's code: Yes. A permit is required. (Applies to removing, damaging, pruning or encroaching on any protected tree on private or public property.) (§ 15-50.050); Any native tree with a trunk diameter of 6 inches or more. (§ 15-50.050).

Tree removal in Saratoga

What Saratoga's code says

Who this affects

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