San Rafael is Marin's biggest town, and it has a little of every tree problem the county has. Old coast live oaks shade the yards in Gerstle Park and the streets below Dominican. Terra Linda's mid-century neighborhoods grew up around trees planted in the 1950s and 60s that are now huge, and many of them hang right over flat, low roofs. Up in the hills toward Lucas Valley and San Pedro Ridge, homes sit against oak and bay woodland where sudden oak death has killed trees in patches. Add winter wind funneling up the valleys from the bay, and San Rafael keeps tree crews busy most of the year. The Highway 101 corridor adds its own twist: rows of tall trees along the freeway and the frontage roads stand right in the wind that funnels through the gap, and they take a beating every winter.
We handle the full mix here, from clearing limbs off a Terra Linda roofline to taking down a dead oak on a steep lot off Fifth Avenue. Our tree removal and tree trimming and pruning crews work all over town. Ask for a free estimate and we'll set a time to look at the tree with you.
Old Oaks and Low Rooflines
A lot of San Rafael homes were built under trees, or the trees were planted close to the house when everything was small. Fifty or sixty years later, those trees are often bigger than the house. Limbs rest on the roof, roots lift the driveway, and leaves fill the gutters every fall. On a low, flat-roofed house, one overhanging limb can do real damage in a storm. Low-slope roofs also collect needles and leaves that hold water against the roofing, which shortens its life. Most of these trees don't need to come out. A careful crown raise and reduction clears the roof, takes weight off the longest limbs and keeps the shade people love. On a big oak, we usually plan the work over two visits a few years apart rather than taking everything at once, which is easier on the tree. The same kind of work suits the older streets across the creek in Larkspur and Kentfield, where big trees and older homes sit just as close together.
Permits and Street Trees in San Rafael
For most trees on a developed residential lot, San Rafael doesn't require a city permit to remove them. Street trees are different. A tree growing in the public strip along the sidewalk belongs to the city, and cutting, pruning or removing it needs a written permit from Public Works under the city's street tree rules. That includes root cutting, which comes up often when a sidewalk or driveway is being replaced next to an old tree. Hillside lots and properties tied to a past planning approval can also come with their own conditions. Before we schedule work near the sidewalk or on a hillside lot, we'll check which rules apply. If the tree in question is a tall one you're unsure about, a hazard tree assessment is a good first step before deciding anything.
Common Questions
Usually not, if the tree is on your own developed lot. The exception is a tree in the planting strip along the curb. Those are city street trees, and Public Works has to sign off in writing before anyone cuts, prunes or removes one. Hillside properties and lots with past planning conditions can have their own rules, so it's worth checking before a large removal.
Trees in the public right-of-way are the city's to manage, so you can't remove or prune one on your own. If a street tree looks damaged or dangerous, contact the city first. We're happy to look at it with you and help you describe the problem when you call them.