Sonoma-Marin Tree Service connects Sebastopol homeowners with local tree service contractors for removals, redwood and oak work, orchard pruning, and stump grinding. Sebastopol's tree ordinance reaches most large trees on single-family lots, not just natives, so for any big tree the permit question comes first.
How Sebastopol tree permits work
Sebastopol Municipal Code Chapter 8.12, Tree Protection, applies to all property in the city, public or private. Trunk size is measured as diameter at breast height, 4.5 feet above grade.
- Single-family and duplex lots: a tree removal permit is needed to remove any tree, native or not, with a trunk of 20 inches in diameter or more, or a multi-trunk tree with one trunk that size.
- Multifamily, commercial, and industrial lots: protected native trees need a permit from 10 inches, and other trees from 20 inches.
- Protected natives include coast live, valley, black, and Oregon oaks, tanbark oak, madrone, California bay, bigleaf maple, buckeye, Douglas fir, coast redwood, white alder, Oregon ash, several willows, and California black walnut.
A permit can be approved only when the City Arborist verifies one of the reasons the code allows, such as a tree that is diseased or structurally unsound and likely to become a significant hazard within two years. Staff reports show the Tree Board has treated removals based only on a tree's closeness to a sidewalk, driveway, or foundation as inconsistent with the code. Approved permits typically come with replacement planting. In 2026, a city subcommittee was reviewing proposed changes to Chapter 8.12, including a lower size threshold and higher fees, so check the current rules with Sebastopol Planning. arborist reports and tree permits explains what goes into the supporting report.
What does not need a permit
The code exempts several kinds of work, including:
- Removing a tree that the City Arborist, Planning staff, or Building Official finds is dead, extremely diseased, or an immediate danger to public safety or property
- Pruning less than one-third of the crown, following ISA pruning standards
- Normal management in orchards, Christmas tree farms, and nurseries
- Removing escaped exotics as the code defines them
Even for a dead tree, the city makes the call, so get it in writing before work starts. Photos and an arborist's note make that easier; see dead tree removal for how these removals are usually handled.
Redwoods, oaks, and Sudden Oak Death
Redwoods are common on Sebastopol lots, often planted near houses decades ago and now huge. They are protected natives under the code, and a redwood of any real size on a home lot will be over 20 inches. Most redwood problems, such as debris on the roof or limbs over a neighbor, can be solved with redwood removal and trimming work short of removal.
Sudden Oak Death is present in the region, and UC Cooperative Extension reports it spreading in northern Sonoma County. It kills tanoaks and coast live oaks, and bay trees carry it. A tanoak or oak that browns out quickly and starts dropping limbs should be looked at, because dead wood becomes brittle fast.
Apple trees and old orchard lots
Sebastopol grew up on Gravenstein apples, and some neighborhoods were built on former orchard land. Leftover apple trees are often large, overgrown, and neglected. Restoring them takes a few seasons of dormant pruning to bring down height and open the center, rather than one heavy cut. See fruit tree and olive pruning for what that involves.
Have a tree on your Sebastopol property you are worried about? Call (707) 634-8593, or request an estimate from a local tree service contractor.
Tree services in Sebastopol
- 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
Do I need a permit to remove a tree from my Sebastopol house?
If it has a trunk 20 inches in diameter or more, measured 4.5 feet above grade, probably yes, under Sebastopol Municipal Code Chapter 8.12. On a single-family or duplex lot this applies to any species. The city has been reviewing changes to this threshold, so confirm with Sebastopol Planning first.
Can I remove a tree because it is too close to my foundation?
Not on that reason alone, based on how the Tree Board has applied the code. The permit criteria focus on things like disease, structural defects, and hazard, verified by the City Arborist. If roots are causing real damage, an arborist report documenting it is the place to start.
Do I need a permit to prune a tree in Sebastopol?
Pruning less than one-third of the crown, done to ISA standards, is exempt from the tree removal permit. Heavier work, or work that amounts to removing the tree, may need a permit.
Who is the fire agency in Sebastopol?
The Sebastopol Fire Department was reorganized into the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District in 2025. Contact Gold Ridge Fire with questions about defensible space on your property.
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