Arborist cutting through an upright trunk section as sawdust flies

San Jose, California

Tree Removal and Tree Service in San Jose

San Jose requires a permit to remove a tree on a single-family lot once its trunk measures 38 inches around, about a foot across, and that holds even when the tree is dead. The street tree in front of the house is also the owner's job to maintain, under a free city permit.

Call (844) 955-1716

County: Santa Clara
Tree rules: Planning Division for private trees. Department of Transportation for street trees.
Key local rule: Permit to remove a tree of 38 inches or more in circumference at 4.5 feet
Electric utility: PG&E
Main hazards: Atmospheric river windstorms, drought, summer limb failure

Ordinance-size trees and the removal permit

The city measures trunk circumference 4.5 feet above the ground. At 38 inches or more the tree is ordinance-size. A tree with several trunks is measured by adding the circumference of each trunk at that height.

On a single-family or duplex lot, a Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Division is needed for an ordinance-size tree, including one that is unhealthy or dead. On multifamily, commercial and industrial property a permit is needed for a tree of any size. The city considers removal where a tree is verified as a safety hazard, is dead, dying or diseased, is unsuitable for the site, or blocks a proposed improvement.

Heritage trees are on a separate city list. Pruning or removing one without consulting the City Arborist and holding a permit is illegal, and the city's application materials warn of heavy fines per tree.

Which San Jose office handles which tree

Tree	Who to contact	What is needed
Yard tree under 38 inches around, single-family lot	Planning Division if unsure	No Tree Removal Permit
Yard tree of 38 inches or more, alive or dead	Planning Division	Tree Removal Permit before any cutting
Any tree on apartment, retail or industrial property	Planning Division	Permit regardless of size
Tree in the park strip or behind the sidewalk in the right-of-way	Department of Transportation	Street tree permit to prune, remove or plant
Listed heritage tree	City Arborist	Consultation and permit for pruning as well as removal

Measure before you call. A tape around the trunk at chest height settles most questions.

Who is responsible for the street tree?

The adjacent property owner. San Jose's municipal code makes the owner of property next to a street responsible for the care of trees and landscaping in the public right-of-way, including pruning, root zone protection, removal and replacement.

Permit first: A street tree permit from the Department of Transportation is required before pruning, removing or planting.
Paperwork on site: Both the owner and the tree company must have a copy of the permit at the job before work begins.
Fines: The city's forms state that pruning or removing a street tree without a permit is illegal and that heavy fines per tree may apply.

After a wet winter in the Santa Clara Valley

The storms of early 2023 brought down trees across the Bay Area after weeks of rain softened the ground. These are the signs to check once the soil is saturated.

Soil lifting or cracking on one side of the trunk
The root plate is moving. Keep people away from the side the tree leans toward.
A redwood or pine with a newly thin, brown top
Drought damage from earlier years often shows as dieback that later breaks out in wind.
Eucalyptus limbs hanging or cracked at the union
Blue gum sheds very heavy limbs, sometimes days after the wind has passed.
Sidewalk panels lifted further than last year
Liquidambar and plane tree roots keep growing. Cutting them needs the street tree permit.

Uprooted stump with exposed roots beside a street — Image for illustration.

What shapes a San Jose removal job

Permit time: An ordinance-size removal waits on the city's review, so non-urgent jobs are planned weeks ahead.
Lot access: Willow Glen and Rose Garden lots have narrow side yards and detached garages. Wood often comes out by hand or over the house with a crane.
Replacement planting: Permits commonly come with a requirement to plant replacement trees or meet an in-lieu condition.
Hillside sites: Almaden Valley and the east foothills add slope, long carries and fire clearance work.
Lines overhead: Rear-lot PG&E lines run through many older blocks, and work near them is coordinated with the utility.

What to do next in San Jose

Act now
A tree has fallen on the house or is blocking the only exit
Call for emergency tree removal. Photograph the tree and keep records for the city.
This week
A dead tree measures more than 38 inches around
Apply for the removal permit. Being dead does not exempt it.
Plan it
The street tree is lifting the sidewalk
Email the Department of Transportation for a street tree permit before any root cutting.
Plan it
You are not sure whether a tree is on the heritage list
Check with the City Arborist before pruning.

San Jose tree permit questions

How big does a tree have to be to need a permit in San Jose?

On a single-family or duplex lot, 38 inches or more in trunk circumference measured 4.5 feet above the ground. That is roughly 12 inches in diameter. On other property types any tree needs a permit.

Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in San Jose?

Yes, if it is ordinance-size. The city's permit page states that a permit is required even when the tree is unhealthy or dead.

Can I be fined for topping my street tree?

Yes. Pruning a street tree without the permit is a violation, and severe topping can be treated the same way as an illegal removal.

Does San Jose prune the tree in my park strip?

Generally no. Maintenance of street trees is the adjacent owner's responsibility under the municipal code.

California pages nearby

Reach a tree service in San Jose

Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the San Jose area, or leave your number and one will call you back.

(844) 955-1716

Call availability varies by area and time of day

Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works

Call now

Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.

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