Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Palo Alto?

For most mature trees, yes - Palo Alto's 2022 ordinance update made it the broadest protection regime in the area (Chapter 8.10): Six native species - including coast live oak, valley oak, and black oak - protected at 11.5 inches in diameter Coast redwoods protected at 18 inches Nearly any mature tree protected at 15 inches (invasive and high-water-use species exempt) Removal permits go through city Urban Forestry and generally require a certified arborist's findings - most commonly that the tree is dead or hazardous. Removal notices are posted publicly. Those findings and applications are our routine work; we prepare them in the format Urban Forestry expects.

For most mature trees, yes – Palo Alto’s 2022 ordinance update made it the broadest protection regime in the area (Chapter 8.10):

Six native species – including coast live oak, valley oak, and black oak – protected at 11.5 inches in diameter
Coast redwoods protected at 18 inches
Nearly any mature tree protected at 15 inches (invasive and high-water-use species exempt)

Removal permits go through city Urban Forestry and generally require a certified arborist’s findings – most commonly that the tree is dead or hazardous. Removal notices are posted publicly. Those findings and applications are our routine work; we prepare them in the format Urban Forestry expects.