Sonoma-Marin Tree Service connects homeowners with CSLB-licensed local tree service contractors for redwood work: thinning a crowded grove, lifting limbs off a roof, or taking out a redwood that has outgrown its spot where the rules allow it. Here is what to know before you call.
Redwoods are often protected
Before planning a removal, find out which rules apply to your lot:
- Mill Valley treats coast redwoods of 95 inches in circumference or more as heritage trees. Removing four or more trees over 19 inches in circumference within 12 months on a developed parcel also needs a permit, and emergency permits exist for hazard trees.
- Unincorporated Sonoma County, including the Russian River towns, requires a zoning permit for about 30 native species, redwood among them, at 6 inches in diameter or more under its 2024 ordinance. Defensible-space work and dead or hazard trees within the defensible-space zone are exempt.
- Unincorporated Marin requires a tree removal permit for any heritage tree, or for more than two protected trees removed from a developed lot in 12 months.
- Larkspur requires a permit to remove a heritage tree and generally an arborist report.
Town details are on our Mill Valley, Larkspur, Fairfax, Guerneville, and Sebastopol pages. When a permit needs a professional assessment, see arborist reports and tree permits. No one can promise approval.
Roots, foundations, and sewer laterals
Redwoods are not deep-rooted. UC-hosted guidance describes coast redwoods as having shallow, widespread root systems that extend sideways rather than down, and links them to cracked sidewalks and paving, damaged foundations, and roots clogging pipes. Older clay or cracked sewer laterals are especially easy for roots to enter.
Cutting those roots is not a free fix. UC IPM documents coast redwoods killed after their roots were cut for a wall and a house, and severing large roots on one side can also make a tall tree less stable. Before trenching, root pruning, or installing a root barrier next to a big redwood, get an arborist's opinion on how close you can safely work.
Trimming and thinning redwoods
Most redwood pruning here is practical: removing dead branches, lifting low limbs off roofs and driveways, clearing debris from gutters, and thinning crowded groves so light and air reach the house. Redwoods are also well known for sending up sprouts from the base, which over time can turn one tree into a tight cluster. Thinning those sprouts while they are small is far easier than removing a trunk later. Avoid topping; it leaves a weak cluster of new tops. See tree trimming and pruning and roof clearance for more.
How redwood removals are done
Tall, straight redwoods on canyon lots rarely have room to fall. The usual method is a climber removing limbs and then the trunk in sections, each lowered on ropes. Where nothing can be lowered safely, a crane lifts sections over the house. Because redwoods resprout from the stump, plan on stump grinding or follow-up sprout cutting if you do not want new trees in the same spot.
Who should do the work
Tree work in California is licensed by the Contractors State License Board, and new licenses are issued in the C-49 Tree and Palm classification. Before you hire anyone, look the contractor up at cslb.ca.gov and ask for a certificate of liability insurance. Look up any license at cslb.ca.gov.
Redwood crowding the house or the sewer line? 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
Can I cut down a redwood on my property?
Often only with a permit. Mill Valley treats coast redwoods of 95 inches in circumference or more as heritage trees, unincorporated Sonoma County requires a zoning permit for redwoods and other listed natives at 6 inches in diameter or more, and unincorporated Marin and several Marin towns have their own heritage-tree rules. Check with your planning department before any removal.
Are redwood roots damaging my foundation or sewer line?
They can be. Redwoods spread shallow roots far from the trunk, and UC-hosted guidance links them to cracked paving, damaged foundations, and roots in pipes. A plumber with a sewer camera can confirm whether roots are in the lateral, and an arborist can tell you whether root pruning is safe for the tree or whether removal is the realistic fix.
Will a redwood stump sprout back?
Usually. Coast redwoods are well known for sprouting from the stump and root crown, so a cut redwood often sends up a ring of new shoots. Grinding the stump and cutting back sprouts as they appear is the usual answer. Ask the contractor how they handle it.
How much does redwood removal or trimming cost?
It varies widely with the height of the tree, access, and what is underneath. Redwoods on hillside lots and close to homes usually have to come down in sections or with a crane, which costs considerably more than a typical removal. Get a written quote after a site visit.
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