 Permits are required to plant or prune or remove street trees. The goal is to insure that the street trees are planted correctly so they are able to develop into maturity and that they are properly sited to avoid, if possible, conflicts with street lights, underground utilities and to minimize visibility issues. Applications for street tree permits are available by calling the Arborist’s Office at (408) 277-2762 or email at arborist@sanjoseca.gov .
Planting Street Trees
Once you request a planting permit, the arborist inspector will visit your property frontage to see if the site is conducive for street tree planting. If so, the inspector will put a green “T” mark on your curb, designating that it is an approved planting location. The Arborist’s Office will then send you a Street Tree Planting Permit in the mail designating the species of trees to plant and specifications on how to properly plant the tree. If the species selected is not to your liking, contact the Arborist’s Office in writing or email arborist@sanjoseca.gov with the type of tree you would prefer. Street trees, along with education assistance, can be obtained from Our City Forest.
Pruning Street Trees
If you would like to prune your street tree, request as Street Tree Pruning Permit. Topping or severe pruning of more that 25% of the tree’s canopy within a growing season is not permitted except with special permission due to an emergency situation. Along with the permit come specifications on how to properly prune street trees and a list of tree companies that are registered with the City of San José. You are not required to use one of the companies on the list, but for your own protection, make sure that the company you hire is properly licensed and insured.
Root Trimming Permits
If your street tree is starting to lift the sidewalk or curb, request a root trimming permit to properly cut the root before it does further damage. It is important to the future health of the tree to insure that the root is severed cleanly rather than shredded so that the tree will be able to close off the wound in a short period of time.
Live Street Tree Removal Permits
Request an application for a street tree removal permit. On the application form are the criteria in Section 13.28.130 of the San José Municipal Code (PDF) that must be met before a street tree permit is granted. Upon field inspection by staff from the Arborist’s Office, if at least one of the criteria has clearly been met, the tree will be posted with a notice of impending removal. This starts a seventeen day period in which the Arborist Office can receive written letters or emails from any residents of San José protesting the removal of the tree. If a valid protest is received within the time period, an informal hearing is then scheduled to further discuss the matter. If no protest is received, then usually the permit is granted within a few days and mailed to the property owner, who is permitted to remove and replace the street tree at their expense. Replacement trees can be obtained from Our City Forest.
Dead Street Tree Removal Permits
The process for obtaining a permit to replace a dead street tree is similar to that for a living tree. Once the condition of the tree has been verified by the Arborist’s Office Inspector, the tree will be posted but there usually is no reason to hold a protest hearing since the tree is dead. Once the permit is granted, the property owner is then permitted to remove and replace the tree.
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