Sonoma-Marin Tree Service connects Sonoma and Marin property owners with local tree contractors who take down big trees on hillside lots, near houses, and under power lines, and who know which towns require a permit first.
When a tree should come down
Most trees are worth keeping, and many can be made safer with pruning instead of removal. Removal makes sense when a tree is dead or dying, when the trunk or root plate is failing, when it leans toward the house and the lean is getting worse, or when it is simply in the wrong place: lifting a foundation, crowding a septic field, or blocking a project that has been permitted.
Warning signs worth a professional look:
- Cracks or cavities in the trunk, or a split where two large stems meet
- Mushrooms or conks at the base, or soft, crumbly wood
- Soil heaving or cracking on one side of the trunk after a storm
- A sudden new lean, or roots lifting out of wet ground
- Large dead limbs in the canopy, or bark peeling away from the trunk
- Oaks or tanoaks dying quickly in an area with Sudden Oak Death
Sudden Oak Death and dead oaks
Sudden Oak Death has killed many tanoaks and coast live oaks in the region, and UC Cooperative Extension reports it spreading in west Marin and northern Sonoma County. UCCE advises that dead oaks and tanoaks be removed when they pose a fire or fall risk. Dead oak wood can become brittle, so these removals are best done before the tree starts dropping large limbs.
How a removal is done here
On an open lot, a crew may fell the tree in one piece. Most North Bay removals are not that simple. Hillside homes, decks, fences, power lines, and neighbors mean the tree usually has to be taken down in sections: a climber or bucket truck removes limbs and the trunk piece by piece, with each section lowered on ropes. Where there is no safe way to rig, a crane lifts sections over the house to the street. Access is often the biggest cost driver, followed by tree size, species, and how much cleanup and hauling you want.
Ask any contractor to spell out what the price includes: cutting, hauling the wood and brush, leaving firewood rounds, and whether the stump is ground.
Permits: check before you cut
Many cities here, and both counties, protect certain trees by species and size, and the rules differ a lot. A few examples we have confirmed:
- Santa Rosa protects heritage and protected trees, with valley and blue oaks covered at 19 inches in circumference, measured 4.5 feet above the ground.
- Unincorporated Sonoma County requires a zoning permit for about 30 native species at 6 inches in diameter or more under its 2024 ordinance, with exemptions for defensible-space work and some hazard trees.
- San Anselmo treats trees 22 inches in diameter or more as heritage trees, and notifies neighbors within 300 feet of a permit application.
- Unincorporated Marin requires a tree removal permit for any heritage tree, or for removing more than two protected trees from a developed lot within 12 months.
Town-by-town details are on our Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Mill Valley, and San Anselmo pages. If a permit needs an arborist's assessment, see arborist reports and tree permits. No one can promise a permit will be approved, but a clear report helps.
Who should do the work
Tree removal is dangerous work, and in California it is licensed by the Contractors State License Board. New licenses are issued in the C-49 Tree and Palm classification. The older D-49 classification is closed to new applicants, though existing D-49 holders can still work. Before you hire anyone, look the contractor up at cslb.ca.gov and ask for a certificate of liability insurance. Ask for the license number in writing and look it up at cslb.ca.gov.
Have a tree you are worried about? 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
How much does tree removal cost?
It varies widely with the tree's size, species, lean, and what sits under it. National cost guides put a typical removal somewhere in the high hundreds of dollars to around $1,000, but large oaks, redwoods, and eucalyptus over a house or on a steep lot here commonly cost much more. The only reliable number is a written quote after a site visit.
Can I remove a dead tree without a permit?
Sometimes, but do not assume it. Many local ordinances treat dead, dying, or hazardous trees differently, and some have emergency provisions, but the details vary by city and county and often require documentation, such as photos or an arborist letter. Unincorporated Sonoma County, for example, exempts dead or hazard trees within the defensible-space zone around a home. Check with your planning department first.
Does tree removal include the stump?
Not always. Many quotes cut the trunk close to the ground and leave the stump. Grinding is often priced separately, so ask whether it is included. See stump grinding for what is involved.
Who is responsible for a tree on the property line?
Ownership usually follows where the trunk stands, and a tree whose trunk straddles the line may be jointly owned. Talk to your neighbor before any removal or major pruning, and get it in writing. For disputes, a real estate attorney is the right resource.
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