Do you need a permit to remove a tree in San Jose, CA?

California · Last checked November 2026

Key facts

Ordinance-size tree

38 inches or more in circumference at 4.5 feet; multi-trunk trees count combined circumference.

How it works

Many cities require a permit to remove trees on private property once the trunk passes a set size, or for protected native species. The permit is often free or cheap, but replacement trees or per-inch fees can cost far more than the removal.

1. Measure the trunk at 4.5 feet above the ground. Some cities use diameter, others circumference.
2. Check whether the species or size is protected, and whether the tree is near the street.
3. Apply before any cutting. Dead or hazardous trees often still need sign-off.
4. Plan for replacement planting or in-lieu fees.

What it costs

Removal itself commonly runs several hundred to a few thousand dollars. City fees range from free to hundreds of dollars, and per-inch recompense or tree fund payments can add much more.

More in California and nearby

• Danville Permit needed above a size
• Los Angeles Permit for protected species
• Morgan Hill Permit needed above a size
• San Bruno Permit needed above a size
• San Francisco Permit needed above a size
• Washington Permit needed above a size
• Henlopen Acres Permit needed above a size
• Atlanta Permit needed above a size