Sonoma-Marin Tree Service connects property owners with CSLB-licensed local tree service contractors who do the tree and limb work insurers ask for, from clearing branches off a roof to taking down a dead tree near the house. Wildfire risk has made these letters common in both counties: Marin County alone saw 5,110 homeowner non-renewals in 2020, according to the nonprofit United Policyholders.
Read the letter first
Insurer requirements often follow an inspection and list specific items and a deadline. Common tree items include:
- Branches over or touching the roof, or close to a chimney
- Dead trees or dead limbs near the house
- Trees or shrubs touching the walls, deck, or eaves
- Brush and debris in the yard, or vegetation under a deck
Pin down three things: exactly which trees or limbs, what "done" looks like, and how to submit proof. A requirement to clear limbs from the roof is clearance pruning, not removal. If the wording is unclear, ask the insurer or your agent in writing before you pay for work you may not need.
Safer from Wildfires
The California Department of Insurance's Safer from Wildfires framework lists mitigation steps for the structure, its immediate surroundings, and the community, and a state regulation requires insurers to offer discounts for taking them. The steps for the immediate surroundings include:
- A 5-foot ember-resistant zone around the home, with greenery and wood chips removed
- Clearing vegetation and debris from under decks
- Moving combustible outbuildings to at least 30 feet away
- Complying with state and local defensible space laws, including trimming trees and removing brush and debris
The framework is about discounts, not a guarantee of coverage. It overlaps with defensible space rules and the upcoming statewide Zone 0 rules, which Fire Safe Marin described in September 2026 as still under further review. Ask your insurer which mitigations they recognize and what proof they want.
The Sonoma County exemption, and everywhere else
In unincorporated Sonoma County, including Penngrove, Kenwood, and Guerneville, Permit Sonoma says removal of a protected tree required by an insurance company to insure an occupied dwelling or structure is exempt from the tree ordinance if the tree is within 100 feet of the structure. Permit Sonoma recommends keeping the insurer's documentation requiring the removal. Defensible-space work and dead or hazardous trees inside the defensible-space zone are also exempt.
Cities write their own rules. A large oak in Santa Rosa or a heritage redwood in Mill Valley may still need a permit even if your insurer wants it gone, and the permit process takes time. Raise that with the insurer early and ask whether the deadline can move while a permit is pending. No one can promise a permit will be approved.
Marin wildfire evaluations
In Marin, local fire agencies evaluate about a third of residential parcels each year through Marin Wildfire's program, and each home gets a Wildfire Risk Report. That report is separate from your insurer's inspection, but they often flag the same things: limbs over the roof, dead vegetation, and flammable plants against the house. Fixing items from one usually helps with the other.
Proof of completed work
- Before photos from fixed spots, then after photos from the same spots
- An invoice that lists each tree or limb by location and what was done
- The contractor's CSLB license number
- Any permit, exemption, or emails from the city or county
- A short written summary from an arborist, if the insurer wants a professional opinion
Who should do the work
In California, tree removal and trimming for pay is licensed by the Contractors State License Board, and new licenses are issued in the C-49 Tree and Palm classification. Insurers may ask for the license number. Before you hire anyone, look the contractor up at cslb.ca.gov and ask for a certificate of liability insurance. Look it up at cslb.ca.gov.
Got an insurance deadline for tree work? Call (707) 634-8593 or request an estimate and we'll connect you with a local tree service contractor.
Tree services in Sonoma County & Marin County
- 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
My insurance company says I have to remove a tree. Do I need a permit?
Possibly. In unincorporated Sonoma County, removing a protected tree that an insurance company requires in order to insure an occupied dwelling or structure is exempt from the tree ordinance if the tree is within 100 feet of the structure, and Permit Sonoma recommends keeping the insurer's written requirement. Cities set their own rules, and a protected tree in Marin or inside a Sonoma city may still need a permit. Check with the planning department before cutting.
Will doing the work guarantee my policy renews?
No. Neither we nor any contractor can promise an insurance outcome. Completing what the insurer asked for, and sending proof before the deadline, gives you the best footing. If the insurer still non-renews, ask for the reason in writing and talk to your agent or the California Department of Insurance.
Do I have to remove the whole tree?
Read the letter closely. Many requirements are about clearance, such as limbs over the roof, branches near a chimney, or vegetation against the house, which pruning can solve. If the letter is vague, ask the insurer exactly what they need before paying for a removal.
What proof should I send the insurer?
Before and after photos taken from the same spots, the contractor's invoice describing the work, the contractor's license number, and any city or county permit or exemption paperwork. Send it in whatever form the insurer asks for and keep copies.
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