8 Best Tree Services in San Jose – Arborists Bay Area

The cost of tree removal in San Jose will depend on a number of factors.

The average cost to cut down a tree in the Bay area is $927. The real range being $375 right up to $4,590 for larger trees.

Some of the biggest things that impact prices are:

• Tree size
• Species
• Location on property
• Access to tree
• Obstacles around the tree (power lines)
• Time of year
• Tree services used

The main factor is going to be the size of the tree and the time taken to remove it. Some trees are easier than others to remove due to them having only a few branches and great access.

If a tree is in the rear of a property with only a small side gate access, it will take more time and man-hours to get the tree on the ground and dragged out the front for mulching. This will cost you more money.

San Jose has a Tree Preservation ordinance that allows some trees to be removed without a permit, while others will need permission from the city.

Heritage trees or street trees cannot be touched. Heritage trees are on both public and private land, so please see the Heritage tree list here to see if your tree is listed. There are about 100 of them in San Jose.

Trees you can remove

Referred to as “Ordinance-sized trees” these are trees that if smaller than the below specifications, can be removed without a permit. Any tree alive or dead that is greater in size than the below will need a permit.

Single trunk – 38 inches circumference or less when measured at 4.5 feet above ground level.

Multi-trunk – The combined measurement of each trunk circumference at 4.5 feet above ground is no greater than 38 inches.

A tree with a 38-inch trunk circumference is a fairly large tree, so in most cases, you will be able to remove a tree without a permit. These laws are quite lenient when compared to other cities.

Tree Preservation Ordinance

Here is a link to the Tree Preservation Ordinance for San Jose. If you have any questions or concerns you can always reach out to the city arborist directly at (408) 794-1901.

What’s the approval process?

If you have a tree that is larger than the above specifications, you will need to submit an application for removal.

If the tree is not dead or a hazard, you will a good reason for removal. Most of the time the tree will not be in a suitable location such as within 5 feet of your residence or other structures. In these cases, approval should not be a problem.

If the tree is of Ordinance size and is healthy and well situated, you have a very slim chance of getting approval for removal.

Process

Fill in the application form with the following:

1. Submit the application form with a tree description and site plan.
2. Photo or each tree.
3. Pay the non-refundable fee required.

Please be seated for the price of a permit. They state that you need to pay a fee upon application, but do not specify if the fees are the same as the permit fees or if you only pay the below if the application is granted.

For unsuitable or dead tree removal permits

$244 for one tree plus $33 for each additional tree

For live tree removal permits

$2,273 – Single-family or duplex properties

$2,599 – All other types of properties

The city of San Jose has committed to increasing the urban forest canopy cover. Through an initiative signed in 2005 and 2007 called the Urban Environment Accord. This aims to plant out 50% of the cities vacant street tree sites.

The goal is to plant 100,000 trees by 2022.

Here is an interactive map of the benefits of this initiative.

The cost to trim a tree in the Bay area will depend on the size of the tree and the amount of work being performed.

You can appreciate that palm trimming is a lot less than removing branches from an Oak tree.

The average cost of tree trimming in San Jose is $425, but the real range is $90 up to $1,900.

The biggest factors that add to price other than the tree size and number of branches are access and obstacles.

If the tree service can get a clear run at the tree with access to machines, then the job will be a lot faster and easier. This means cheaper prices for you.

If your tree is in a backyard, I suggest doing your best to give as clear access as possible. This might include removing parts of your fence to give better access.

If a neighbor’s trees are encroaching on your property you are within your rights to trim the tree. The city recommends you use a certified arborist for trimming work and they adhere to the National Arboriculture Association standards for pruning.

If you have a dispute with your neighbour about trimming, you will need to contact the city customer service first on (408) 535-3500.

It is illegal to trim a street tree in San Jose or the Bay area without first obtaining a permit.

In most cases, you can just report an issue with a tree and the city will come out to trim the tree free of charge. There are minimum clearances that trees should have to allow foot traffic and access to properties. This is normally 8 feet. If your tree needs some branches removed, alert your city arborist at (408) 794-190, who will come out and inspect then give the go-ahead for trimming.

Other resources: See the Tree Policy manual here for more details.