Tree trimming and removal: permits, fire safety and cost

For Silicon Valley homes · Updated October 2026 · Sources below

Trimming your own trees usually needs no permit, but removing a larger tree often does. In San José, a tree 38 inches or more around (measured 4½ feet up) needs a permit to remove on a single-family lot - even if it's dead - and street and heritage trees need a permit even to prune. Never trim near power lines yourself.

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Stay away from any branch touching a power line, and from downed lines - assume they're live and call 911. Never climb a tree or use a chainsaw on a ladder.

The short version

San José: a permit to remove trees 38+ inches around at 4½ feet up, even dead ones
Street trees and heritage trees need a permit to prune or remove - fines up to $15,000 and $30,000 per tree
CAL FIRE: keep branches 10 feet from chimneys and limb trees up 6 feet from the ground
Tree jobs of $1,000 or more need a licensed contractor

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What it costs

Trim a tree$270 - $2,000 (average $460)
Remove a tree$200 - $2,000 (average $750)

Tree height, access, nearness to the house or lines, stump grinding and hauling change the price. An arborist report for a permit is extra.

Typical ranges from published cost guides - mostly national figures. Bay Area prices usually run higher. Your actual price depends on your home and the job, and a pro gives you the real number. Source: HomeAdvisor cost guide (national) (Dec 2024); HomeAdvisor cost guide (national) (Jun 2026). Have a quote? Check it with the Quote Explainer

Signs a tree needs a pro

Dead or hanging branches over the roof, driveway or play areas
A trunk that's cracked, hollow or leaning more than before
Mushrooms at the base or roots lifting the soil
Branches touching the roof, chimney or the line to your house
Heavy, dense crowns that catch a lot of wind

Trim or remove?

Trim: dead wood, branches over the roof or near the chimney, and low limbs are usually handled by pruning.
Remove: a dead, dying or structurally unsound tree, or one damaging the foundation or sewer line - check your city's permit rules first.
Dead or dying ordinance-size tree in San José: the permit application needs a signed report from an arborist with ISA certification.
Near power lines: hire a qualified tree professional and tell PG&E before work near the line to your house.

In Silicon Valley

San José: on single-family or duplex lots, removing an ordinance-size tree (a single trunk 38 inches or more around at 4½ feet above ground) needs a permit, even if it's unhealthy or dead.
San José street trees can't be pruned or removed without a permit (fines up to $15,000 per tree), and heritage trees need the City Arborist and a permit first (fines up to $30,000 per tree).
CAL FIRE's defensible space guidance: keep branches 10 feet from chimneys and stovepipes, trim branches up to at least 6 feet from the ground, and keep about 10 feet between tree crowns within 30 feet of the house. Zones 1 and 2 (out to 100 feet or your property line) are required by law where state defensible space rules apply - ask your fire department.
PG&E is responsible for clearing the top two lines on a utility pole; the service drop that runs to your house is the homeowner's responsibility. Don't prune near any line yourself - hire a qualified tree professional.

Questions homeowners ask

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in San Jose?

On a single-family or duplex lot, yes if the trunk is 38 inches or more around measured 4½ feet above the ground - even if the tree is dead. Street trees and heritage trees always need a permit. Smaller trees on your own lot don't.

Do I need a permit to trim a tree?

Usually not for trees on your own lot. In San José, pruning a street tree or a heritage tree does need a permit. Other cities have their own rules, so check before heavy pruning of a large or protected tree.

Who trims trees near power lines?

PG&E clears the top two high-voltage lines on the pole. The service line that runs from the pole to your house is your responsibility, but don't prune near it yourself - hire a qualified tree professional and tell PG&E before the work.

How far should trees be from my house for fire safety?

CAL FIRE recommends keeping branches 10 feet from chimneys, trimming lower limbs up to at least 6 feet from the ground, and keeping about 10 feet between trees within 30 feet of the house. Remove dead leaves and needles from the roof and gutters.

When is the best time to trim trees in the Bay Area?

It depends on the species, so ask an arborist with ISA certification for the right window for each tree. Dead or hanging branches over the house are worth clearing before the winter storms, when saturated soil and wind bring trees down.

How much does tree trimming or removal cost?

HomeAdvisor's national guides put tree trimming at about $270 to $2,000 and tree removal at about $200 to $2,000, with large trees costing more. Bay Area prices usually run higher, and stump grinding and hauling may be extra.

Do you need a permit?

Depends on the tree's size and type - many Silicon Valley cities protect larger trees.

General guidance based on California's building code - your city can have stricter rules, and zoning, historic and HOA rules can apply too. Check with your city's building department before you start.

Check the rule for your city

Save with your neighbors

Tree trimming is a job neighbors team up on: one pro, one trip down your street, a group price the pro sets. Three homes start it.

Start or join a Neighborhood Block Deal

Questions to ask the pro

Will an arborist with ISA certification do the assessment?
Does this tree need a city permit, and will you handle the application?
Are stump grinding, chipping and hauling included?
What's your contractor license number, and do you carry liability and workers' comp insurance?
How will you protect the roof, fence and plants during the work?

Before you sign, check the contractor's license at cslb.ca.gov. How to hire a contractor in California

Go deeperRemoving a tree in San Jose: when you need a permit

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