The Protected Tree Ordinance was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on October 22, 2024. The new ordinance is now available, along with a companion guidance website on tree management.
Ordinance & Companion Guidance Website
Trees in the Coastal Zone
The ordinance is not yet in effect in the San Mateo County Coastal Zone; therefore, the following policies still apply:
- Regulation of the Removal and Trimming of Heritage Trees on Public and Private Property
- Regulation of Removal of Significant Trees
Trees in the County Right-of-Way
For information about the planting, removal, or trimming of trees in the right-of-way of unincorporated San Mateo County, see the Department of Public Works Trees and Roadside Vegetation webpage.
For more information on the process to update the ordinance, visit: