Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Lafayette?

Lafayette's code: No tree permit, documentation, replacement trees or fee needed to remove excluded species. (Unless the tree was shown on an approved development application and serves privacy or visual screening.) (§ 6-1705); No tree permit, documentation, replacement trees or fee needed. (Applies to a tree whose trunk is within 5 feet of an existing building or attached structure, such as a deck.) (§ 6-1705).

Tree removal in Lafayette: the local rules

Lafayette code What Lafayette's code adds
Exemptions	No tree permit, documentation, replacement trees or fee needed to remove excluded species. Applies: Unless the tree was shown on an approved development application and serves privacy or visual screening. § 6-1705 · code text Any excluded species, as defined, unless the tree(s) in question meet the description at Section 6-1704(b)(4)(A). No tree permit, documentation, replacement trees or fee needed. Applies: Applies to a tree whose trunk is within 5 feet of an existing building or attached structure, such as a deck. § 6-1705 · code text Any tree with a trunk located within five feet of an existing building or attached structure (e.g., deck), measured from the closest point of the trunk at standard height (four and one-half feet above natural grade) to the closest point of the building or attached structure. No tree permit needed for extensive pruning to keep 10 feet of clearance in all directions from an existing building. Applies: Applies to keeping clearance from an existing building, roof, chimney or stovepipe. § 6-1705 · code text Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6-1704(a), Actions Requiring Permit, trees may be extensively pruned to maintain a distance of ten feet in all directions from an existing building, including ten feet above the roof of the building and ten feet from any outlet of a chimney or stovepipe. Permit required, fee waived. An arborist report must state the tree is dead or dying and the cause. Applies: Dead or dying tree in very poor condition, not caused by the owner, applicant or another party. § 6-1705 · code text A dead or dying tree in very poor condition may be removed if an arborist report, submitted to the director, attests that the tree is dead or dying and describes the cause of death. A permit is required, but the application fee is waived. Applies: Privately maintained street tree blocking required public infrastructure repairs, where an arborist says repairs would kill the tree within 2 years. § 6-1705 · code text A tree may be removed if a department of the city issues a notice or citation to a property owner requiring the owner to repair damage to public infrastructure, and the property owner provides an arborist report stating that the repairs to the infrastructure cannot be made without causing an adjacent tree to die within two years. A permit is required, but the application fee is waived. Applies: Removal or extensive pruning required by a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District notice for defensible space or a fuel break. § 6-1705 · code text A tree may be removed or extensively pruned to maintain defensible space, or to create or maintain a fuel break, in order to comply with a notice issued to the property owner by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCC FPD) that identifies the specific trees that must be removed or pruned. The director may waive the permit requirement and grant an emergency tree removal permit. Applies: A hazard needing immediate action to protect life or property, or an imminent threat certified by an arborist. § 6-1705 · code text When a hazardous or dangerous condition requires immediate action to protect life or property as determined by the director, or when the imminent threat is certified by an arborist and an emergency tree removal permit is granted by the director; The director may waive the permit requirement. Applies: Emergencies ordered by the director, a Contra Costa County Fire Protection District official, or a Contra Costa County Building Department official. § 6-1705 · code text Under emergency conditions when ordered by the director, an official of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, or an official of the Contra Costa County Building Department; The director may waive the permit requirement. Applies: Applies to keeping defensible space on land covered by flammable material, as state law requires. § 6-1705 · code text To maintain defensible space on land covered by flammable material, as required by California Government Code Section 51182 and evaluated and approved by the Director with consultation with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District; The director may waive the permit requirement. Applies: Applies to keeping water flowing freely for flood-control safety in a creek or other waterway. § 6-1705 · code text To maintain an unobstructed flow of water for flood control safety in a creek or other waterway as determined by the city engineer or the public works director.
Permit to remove	Yes. A Category I permit is required. Applies: Removing, destroying or extensively pruning a protected tree on property with no development application now or for at least 1 year. § 6-1706 · code text A Category I permit is required to remove, destroy, or extensively prune a protected tree on property not currently associated with a development application or that will not be associated with a development application for a minimum of one year from the date of the issuance of the permit. Yes. A Category II permit is required. Applies: Applies when construction under a development application may destroy, remove or extensively prune a protected tree. § 6-1707 · code text A Category II permit is required if the proposed construction may result in the destruction, removal, or extensive pruning of a protected tree.
Protected trees	On developed property: a native-species tree with a trunk diameter of 12 inches or more. Applies: Applies to developed property. § 6-1704 · code text A tree that is located on a developed property, is of a native species, and has a trunk diameter of 12 inches or more. On undeveloped property: a native or native riparian tree with a diameter of 6 inches or more. Applies: Applies to native or native riparian species on undeveloped property. § 6-1704 · code text Is of a native or native riparian species and has a diameter of six inches or more; On undeveloped property: any other species with a diameter of 12 inches or more. Applies: Applies to species other than native or native riparian on undeveloped property. § 6-1704 · code text Is of any other species and has a diameter of 12 inches or more. Native riparian species, trunk diameter 6 inches or more, or 1 component trunk of 4 inches or more if multi-trunked. Applies: Applies in a riparian area, on developed or undeveloped property. § 6-1704 · code text A tree that is of a native riparian species, is located in a riparian area, on either developed or undeveloped property, and has a trunk diameter of six inches or more, or one component trunk of a multi-trunked tree, in which the component trunk has a diameter of four inches or more. Any tree on a development application approved before November 25, 2024 serving an important purpose like privacy or visual screening. Applies: Applies to development applications approved before November 25, 2024. § 6-1704 · code text A tree of any size or species that was shown on an approved development application prior to adoption of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived on November 25, 2024, and serves an important purpose such as privacy screening between neighbors or visual screening for a building. Any tree of any size or species named for protection in the conditions of approval. Applies: Applies to development applications approved on or after November 25, 2024. § 6-1704 · code text A tree of any size or species that is specifically designated for protection in the conditions of approval for an approved development application on or after November 25, 2024. A replacement tree planted to meet tree replacement and mitigation requirements. Applies: Applies to replacement trees. § 6-1704 · code text A replacement tree planted to meet the requirements of Section 6-1708, Tree Replacement and Mitigation. A native-species tree of any size. Applies: Applies in a restricted ridgeline area. § 6-1704 · code text A native species tree of any size located within a restricted ridgeline area. A tree of any size or species. Applies: Street trees: in a public right-of-way or private access easement. § 6-1704 · code text A tree of any size or species located within a public right-of-way or private access easement.
Replacement trees	Yes. The applicant must meet the Tree Replacement and Mitigation rules. Applies: Applies when removal, destruction or extensive pruning of a protected tree is permitted. § 6-1707 · code text When the removal, destruction, or extensive pruning of a protected tree is permitted, the applicant shall comply with the requirements of Section 6-1708, Tree Replacement and Mitigation.

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