In the City of Sacramento, you need a permit before pruning or removing a "private protected tree": a native oak, California buckeye, or California sycamore 12 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet, or any tree 32 inches or more on a home lot. Street trees always need city approval. The application fee is $50.
City or county? Check first
This guide covers only property inside City of Sacramento limits. A Sacramento mailing address does not always mean the city’s rules apply.
- Unincorporated areas such as Carmichael, Fair Oaks, and Orangevale: read our Sacramento County tree permit guide.
- Citrus Heights: see our Citrus Heights permit guide.
- Folsom: see our Folsom permit guide.
- Roseville: see our Roseville permit guide.
Sacramento calls itself the City of Trees, and its tree rules are more detailed than in many nearby communities. The rules live in City Code Chapter 12.56, and the Urban Forestry division of Public Works runs the permits. The city calls pruning, removing, planting, and working inside a tree’s protection zone “regulated work.” Regulated work on a City tree or a Private Protected Tree needs an approved permit first.
Which Trees Are Protected in the City of Sacramento?
The city uses the term Private Protected Trees(formerly called “Heritage Trees”). A tree on private property counts as one if it fits any of the groups below.
Native trees at 12 inches DSH
These six native species are protected at 12 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet (DSH):
- Valley oak (Quercus lobata)
- Blue oak (Quercus douglasii)
- Interior live oak (Quercus wislizeni)
- Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
- California buckeye (Aesculus californica)
- California sycamore (Platanus racemosa)
Note on sycamores: the similar-looking American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is not on the native list. It can still be protected under the size rule below. If you have a large sycamore and aren’t sure of the species, get it identified before you plan any work.
Any large tree: 32 inches at homes, 24 inches on other property
Species doesn’t matter once a tree gets big enough. Any tree 32 inches or more DSH is protected on a lot with a single-family home or duplex. On undeveloped, commercial, industrial, or apartment property, the line is 24 inches DSH. That includes large non-native shade trees like elms, ashes, and pines, so “it’s not an oak” is not enough to skip the permit.
Council-designated trees (formerly Heritage)
The City Council can also designate individual trees for special historical, environmental, or community value. A council-designated tree is a Private Protected Tree no matter its size or species. If you think a tree on your lot may have this status, ask Urban Forestry by calling 311 before you plan anything.
How to measure DSH
DSH is the trunk diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground. Wrap a tape around the trunk at that height and divide the circumference by 3.14. A trunk about 38 inches around is roughly 12 inches across, and a trunk about 100 inches around is roughly 32 inches across. The code has special rules for trees that fork below 4.5 feet and for multi-trunk trees, so close calls are worth a second look.
Street and Park-Strip Trees
A tree is a City tree if its trunk is partly or fully in a park, on city property, or in the right-of-way, and that includes park strips and mow strips between the curb and sidewalk. Any pruning or removal of a City tree is regulated work that needs a permit, no matter the species, size, or condition. If a street tree is lifting your sidewalk or driveway, contact Urban Forestry through 311 and ask for an evaluation.
The hard part is telling which trees are city-owned. A whole block can be lined with large trees, some city-owned and some private, with no obvious way to tell them apart. The reliable method is the Sacramento City Tree Map. Search “city tree map Sacramento” online, open the city’s interactive tree inventory, and look up your address. Always confirm before anyone works on a tree you think might be city-owned.
In our experience, city street-tree pruning requests can take 2–3 years to reach the top of the list. That is why some homeowners in South Sacramento, Midtown, Curtis Park, and East Sacramento hire a private company to handle a City tree that needs attention now. The work still needs a city permit first.
The Sacramento Tree Foundation (sactree.com) is also a helpful resource for local tree programs.
Pruning vs. Removal: Both Are “Regulated Work”
Many homeowners assume permits are only about removal. In the City of Sacramento, pruning a Private Protected Tree or a City tree is regulated work too, so you need an approved permit before the pruning starts. Trimming and pruning are the same thing here.
The good news is that pruning instead of removal often solves the problem. For oaks, deadwood can come out any time of year, and light maintenance pruning (under about 10% of the canopy) is fine year-round. Heavier pruning or removing a lot of live wood should wait for winter, in the dormant season. For a weak fork or heavy limb, read our guide to cabling and bracing trees. For everyday shaping and clearance, see tree trimming.
Dead or Hazardous Trees
A common belief is that dead or hazardous trees don’t need a permit. In the City of Sacramento, that is not correct. A dead Private Protected Tree or City tree still needs a permit. Being dead is a strong reason for the city to approve the removal, but you still have to apply first, and a written arborist assessment makes the case clear.
The same goes for a tree that is leaning, cracked, or dropping limbs. If a tree is an urgent danger, call 311 right away and explain the situation. A tree risk assessment can help show the city what is going on.
How to Apply for a City of Sacramento Tree Permit
- Application: fill out the City Tree Permit Application and email it to urbanforestry@cityofsacramento.org, or mail it to 5730 24th St, Bldg 12-A, Sacramento, CA 95822. Details are on the city’s Urban Forestry tree permits page.
- Fee:the application says “applications will be charged a fee of $50 to cover arborist costs.” You are invoiced after processing.
- Timeline: the city says permits are generally processed within ten business days.
- Extra documents: depending on the job, the city may ask for an arborist report, owner authorization, a planting, replacement, or protection plan, proof of a CSLB license, or a site map.
- Before work: you need the approved permit before work starts, and the permit has to be kept on site during the work.
- Questions: call 311.
If the city asks for an arborist report, it has to come from a qualified arborist: an ISA Certified Arborist with an active number, an ASCA registered consulting arborist, or someone with 5+ years of experience who agrees in writing to follow ANSI A300.
Penalties for Skipping the Permit
The city takes this seriously. Its application warns that violating City Code 12.56 can bring “administrative penalties up to $25,000 for each day.” Compared with a $50 application fee, the permit is always the better choice.
HOA rules can add another layer. Some neighborhoods have CC&Rs that restrict tree work beyond what the city requires, including species the city does not protect. Check both the city rules and your HOA’s guidelines before you plan any removal.
How TreeMax Helps Sacramento Clients
Permit research is part of every Sacramento job. Every estimate is done by an ISA Certified Arborist, who checks species, size, and whether a city permit applies before you get a price. We also check whether the tree is a City tree and whether your HOA has its own rules.
We can file the permit application for you for a $150 service fee. That’s separate from the city’s $50 application fee. If the city requires an arborist report, we can provide it for an additional $250. Once the permit is approved, our own crews do the work, done properly and to ISA standards.
Pruning first is often the right call. A Midtown homeowner with a 400–500-year-old oak needed a trim. We got the permit in under two weeks and did the work in a day.
We work across the city, including Land Park, East Sacramento, Curtis Park, Midtown, and South Sacramento. Learn more about our Sacramento tree service, or, if a tree has to come down, our page on tree removal in Sacramento. Office hours are Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Call (916) 580-7932 or get a free estimate online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my property in Sacramento?
It depends on the species and size. Inside City of Sacramento limits, you need a permit to remove a Private Protected Tree: a valley, blue, interior live, or coast live oak, California buckeye, or California sycamore 12 inches or more DSH, any tree 32 inches or more DSH on a single-family or duplex lot, or a council-designated tree. Smaller trees of other species usually do not need a city permit. Call 311 if you are not sure.
How big does a tree have to be to be protected in the City of Sacramento?
Native oaks, California buckeye, and California sycamore are protected at 12 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet (DSH). Any tree of any species is protected at 32 inches or more DSH on a lot with a single-family home or duplex, and at 24 inches or more DSH on undeveloped, commercial, industrial, or apartment property.
Do I need a permit to prune an oak in Sacramento?
Yes, if the oak is a Private Protected Tree or a City tree. Pruning is regulated work under the city code, just like removal, so you need an approved permit before the work starts. Light maintenance pruning is fine year-round once permitted, and heavier pruning should wait for the dormant season.
How much does a City of Sacramento tree permit cost, and how long does it take?
The city application says applications are charged a $50 fee to cover arborist costs, invoiced after processing. The city says permits are generally processed within ten business days. If you want us to file the application for you, our $150 filing service is separate from the city fee.
Can I remove or prune the street tree in front of my house?
Not without city approval. Trees in the right-of-way, including park strips and mow strips, are City trees, and any pruning or removal is regulated work that needs a permit. Check the City Tree Map or call 311 to find out whether a tree is city-owned.
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
The city application warns that violating City Code 12.56 can bring administrative penalties up to $25,000 for each day. Get the permit first, and keep it on site while the work is being done.