Routine pruning of City trees is usually performed on a 7-year schedule (please see the City tree maintenance webpage for details). In addition to the regularly scheduled tree maintenance, there may be conditions that warrant additional pruning and/or inspection, including:

• Removal of dead, damaged, and diseased branches
• Correction or removal of structural defects
• Restore the canopy after a catastrophic limb failure
• Reduce end weight in the canopy

Customers can request an inspection for non-routine maintenance for any City tree by submitting a City Tree Service Request. Service Requests can be submitted by contacting the City’s Urban Forestry Division at 530-757-5633, by emailing CityTrees@CityofDavis.org, or by submitting a request through the MyDavis Service Request System.

Each City Tree Service Request that is submitted will be assessed by staff. The health of the tree, along with other considerations such as public safety and keeping the public right of way (including sidewalks, bike paths and roads) clear, as well as currently available resources will determine the pruning prescription for each request submitted. The focus of City tree pruning is the maintenance of tree health.

Should the determination be made that work on the tree is necessary, the work will be performed by City staff, or City contractors. Keep in mind that the timing of work will be hard to predict, as there may be existing higher priority efforts. In the cases where the work is minimal and/or outside of City standards, residents can request to complete the work at their own expense by submitting a City Tree Permit Application.

If the property owner wants to perform non-substantial pruning on a protected tree, they may not need a permit. Visit City Tree Maintenance to learn more about non-substantial pruning.   

Does your project require tree work at a certain time? The City may not be able to meet requested deadlines on City Tree Service Requests.  If you need a City Tree pruned during a certain timeframe in order to get additional clearance around your building for projects such as house painting, roof replacement, or general remodeling, submitting a City Tree Permit may be the most efficient way to meet requested deadlines. 

City Tree Permit applications should also be used to request the modification or removal of a City tree on private or public property.

Pruning requests should include the reason for the pruning, a map of the location with trees clearly identified, the description including species, size and health of the trees, and a description of the proposed scope of work and methods.  

Removal requests must include the reasons for removal, a map of the area with trees clearly identified (characteristics including diameter at breast height and species must be included). If the tree is not dead/dying, the application must also include a description of other options explored before the application to remove the tree. Depending on the reason for removal included in the application, please note the following may be required to accompany the application: an arborist report, invoices, proposals for repair work, landscape or tree planting plan, tree protection plan, or any other information deemed necessary.

NOTE: if your application proposes the removal of more than three (3) City trees, or to remove greater than 25” of trees at the same site, a certified arborist report completed for the trees at the property owner’s expense and must be submitted with the application.  

 

With the submission of a City Tree Permit application, Urban Forestry program staff will evaluate the tree or trees included. Please note that it is generally not possible to meet with staff when performing the evaluation. For this reason, please ensure your application is as detailed as possible in regard to the requested work.  

• City Tree Permit Application - July 2025

A Private/Protected Tree permit is required for substantial pruning or removal of private trees in areas used for commercial, multifamily or in an HOA common area. This includes trees in parking lots and within open green areas for resident or customer use.

Work on Private/Protected trees, including and up to removals, is completed at the property owner’s expense and working with a certified privately hired arborist.

Pruning requests should include the reason for the pruning and the description, including species, size and health of the trees in the application.

Removal requests must include the reasons for removal, a map of the area with trees clearly identified (characteristics including diameter at breast height and species must be included), as well as the estimated loss of canopy on the property. Depending on the reason for removal included in the application, please note the following may be required to accompany the application: an arborist report, invoices, proposals for repair work, landscape or tree planting plan, tree protection plan, or any other information deemed necessary.

• Private-Protected Tree Permit Application - July 2025

Tree Permit Applications (City and Private/Protected) are submitted by the property owner or their agent (such as an arborist), and can be sent in the following ways:

• Mail the permit application (along with the check for the fee of $150) to: City of Davis Public Works Utilities and Operations Department, Attn.: Urban Forestry Manager, 1717 5th Street, Davis, CA 95616
• Email to the permit application to CityTrees@CityofDavis.org, and staff will call to take credit card payment information over the phone. 

Any work requested (up to and including removals) can be on the same application as long as the ownership of the tree in consideration is the same. Once staff receives a completed Tree Permit Application and payment, the City’s Urban Forestry Manager will review and either approve or deny the permit. Please note: time to review permits may vary based on staff resources. Customers will receive notification via email or mail with the status of their permit request.

Per City Code, the removal of healthy trees (City trees or Private Protected Trees) requires mitigation, either as replacement tree(s) to be planted and maintained on site (please note: replacement City trees must be planted and maintained on publicly accessible site), and/or an in-lieu payment to the tree preservation fund at the property owner’s expense.

Trees deemed dead or dying require tree-for-tree mitigation, all others may require inch-for-inch mitigation. Approval of the mitigation amount (either trees to be planted or fees to be paid) is finalized by the Urban Forestry Program Manager at the time of permit issuance.