Sonoma-Marin Tree Service connects homeowners in Guerneville, Rio Nido, Monte Rio, and the rest of the lower Russian River with local tree service contractors for storm cleanup, hazard tree removal, redwood work, and fire clearance. Guerneville is unincorporated, so tree rules come from Sonoma County rather than a city, and Permit Sonoma administers them.
River canyon trees and winter storms
The river towns sit in a narrow, forested canyon. Second-growth coast redwoods, the same forest preserved in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve just north of town, grow right up to cabins and houses on the slopes above the river and along roads like Armstrong Woods Road and the lanes of Rio Nido. Bays, tanoaks, Douglas fir, and alders fill in around them.
That mix is hard on trees in winter. Atmospheric-river storms soak the shallow soil on steep slopes, and wind then levers trees out by the roots or snaps tops and limbs. Big redwood limbs can come down without warning. The February 2019 flood, one of the worst on the river in decades, showed how quickly the lower river can become hard to reach. If a tree is on the house, across the driveway, or leaning onto lines, storm-damaged and fallen tree removal starts with making the site safe. If PG&E lines are involved, call PG&E first and stay clear.
Sonoma County tree permits in Guerneville
Unincorporated Sonoma County adopted an updated tree protection ordinance, Ordinance 6478, in April 2024, the first big update since 1989. It requires a zoning permit to remove about 30 native species at 6 inches in diameter or more, a list that includes coast redwood, oaks, and madrone. Where mitigation is needed, the county's in-lieu fee is $510 per arboreal value point.
The exemptions matter on the river:
- Defensible space work required under Public Resources Code 4291 or the county's Chapter 13A hazardous vegetation ordinance is exempt.
- Dead or hazard trees within the defensible space zone around a home are exempt.
- Removals required by your insurer within 100 feet of a dwelling are exempt.
A healthy redwood well away from the house is a different matter, and may need a permit. If you are unsure, check with Permit Sonoma first. For documenting a hazard tree or supporting an application, see arborist reports and tree permits.
Fire clearance under Chapter 13A
Sonoma County's hazardous vegetation ordinance, Chapter 13A, applies to unincorporated parcels, including Guerneville and the other river towns. It sets a 30-foot "lean, clean, and green" zone around structures and a reduced-fuel zone from 30 to 100 feet, and the county abates uncorrected violations and liens the cost to the property. Fire service in Guerneville and Rio Nido is provided by the Sonoma County Fire District, which took over the former Russian River Fire Protection District in 2020.
On a redwood lot, clearance work usually means removing dead trees and branches, cutting limbs back from roofs and chimneys, clearing duff and debris off decks and gutters, and limbing up small trees and brush under the canopy. See defensible space and fire clearance and roof clearance and limb removal for how that is laid out. The county has also offered free curbside chipping programs for fire-season brush; check with the county about current dates and areas.
Sudden Oak Death and dying tanoaks
Sudden Oak Death has killed many tanoaks and coast live oaks in Sonoma County forests, and UC Cooperative Extension reports it spreading in the northern part of the county. Bay trees carry the pathogen without dying. UCCE advises removing dead oaks and tanoaks when they pose a fire or fall risk. Dead tanoaks near a house or road are a common removal on the river, and the wood becomes brittle quickly, so it is better done sooner.
Have a tree on your Guerneville property you are worried about? Call (707) 634-8593, or request an estimate from a local tree service contractor.
Tree services in Guerneville
- Tree Removal → Removal of dead, leaning, diseased, and unwanted trees, including large oaks, redwoods, and eucalyptus on tight or sloped lots.
- Storm-Damaged & Fallen Tree Removal → Fallen trees, split trunks, hanging limbs, and trees on roofs, fences, or driveways after North Bay winter storms.
- Tree Trimming & Pruning → Crown thinning, deadwood removal, structural pruning, and clearance pruning for oaks, redwoods, and ornamentals.
- Stump Grinding & Removal → Grinding stumps and surface roots below grade so you can replant, lay lawn, or build, plus full stump removal where needed.
- Arborist Reports & Tree Permits → Arborist reports for city and county tree removal permits, protected and heritage trees, and construction near trees.
- Defensible Space & Fire Clearance → Limbing up, juniper and brush removal, dead tree removal, and chipping for Marin evaluations and Sonoma inspections.
- Oak Tree Removal & Sudden Oak Death → Dead and dying coast live oaks, tanoaks, and valley oaks, including Sudden Oak Death losses and protected-oak permits.
- Eucalyptus Tree Removal → Taking down tall, brittle blue gum eucalyptus near homes, roads, and fire zones, and dealing with regrowth.
- Redwood Tree Removal & Trimming → Redwoods crowding foundations, driveways, and sewer lines, thinning redwood groves, and removals where a permit allows.
- Crane Tree Removal → Crane-assisted removals for big trees over houses, on steep hillside lots, and anywhere there is no room to drop or rig.
- Dead & Hazardous Tree Removal → Dead, dying, cracked, and leaning trees that threaten the house, the street, or the neighbors, with the paperwork hazard removals need.
- Roof Clearance & Limb Removal → Lifting limbs off roofs, gutters, chimneys, and decks for fire clearance, insurance letters, and plain peace of mind.
- Tree Risk Assessment → A qualified look at a leaning, cracked, or hollow tree before a storm decides for you, with a written recommendation.
- Lot Clearing & Brush Chipping → Clearing overgrown lots, thinning small trees and brush, and chipping or hauling the debris for building, fire safety, or sale.
- Fruit Tree & Olive Pruning → Dormant and summer pruning for backyard orchards, old olives, and heritage fruit trees on wine country properties.
- Palm Tree Trimming & Removal → Skinning and trimming tall palms, removing dead fronds and seed pods, and taking out palms that have outgrown the lot.
- Tree Cabling & Bracing → Support systems for split trunks and heavy limbs on trees worth keeping, installed and inspected to industry standards.
- Insurance-Required Tree Removal → Clearing trees and limbs an insurer has flagged before a policy renewal or non-renewal deadline, with documentation.
- View Pruning → Opening up bay, hill, and valley views with selective thinning and reduction that keeps the tree healthy and the neighbors on side.
Frequently asked questions
Does Guerneville have its own tree ordinance?
No. Guerneville is unincorporated, so Sonoma County rules apply. Ordinance 6478, adopted in 2024, requires a zoning permit to remove about 30 native species at 6 inches in diameter or more, with exemptions for defensible space work, dead or hazard trees in the defensible space zone, and insurer-required removals within 100 feet of a home.
Can I remove a redwood that is leaning toward my house?
If it is a dead or hazard tree within the defensible space zone around your home, the county ordinance exempts the removal from a permit. A healthy redwood farther out may need one. Photos and an arborist assessment are useful either way, and Permit Sonoma can confirm what applies.
A tree fell on my Rio Nido house in a storm. What should I do first?
Get everyone out of the affected part of the house, stay away from any downed lines and call PG&E if lines are involved, then photograph the damage for your insurer before anything is moved. A tree contractor can then stabilize and remove the tree in sections.
Who inspects defensible space in Guerneville?
Chapter 13A inspections on unincorporated parcels are run by Permit Sonoma with the local fire districts. Guerneville and Rio Nido are served by the Sonoma County Fire District.
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