Tree removal in Sonoma and Marin
Big oaks, redwoods, bays, and eucalyptus shade most North Bay lots, and the same trees bring the calls: a dead oak over the driveway, a eucalyptus that sheds limbs every wind storm, a redwood lifting the foundation, a pine the insurer wants gone. Removal on a hillside lot with a house, a deck, and power lines underneath is skilled, high-risk work that is usually done in sections and sometimes with a crane.
Many cities here, and both counties, protect certain trees by species and size. Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Larkspur, unincorporated Marin, and unincorporated Sonoma County each have their own rules, thresholds, and paperwork, and removing a protected oak or redwood without a required permit can bring enforcement and replacement-planting requirements. Knowing which rule applies before the saw comes out is part of the job.
Storm damage and hazardous trees
Winter storms on saturated ground topple oaks, pines, and eucalyptus across both counties most years, and a tree on the roof or across the driveway cannot wait for a convenient week. We route storm calls to contractors who do this work and are set up for it. A leaning, cracked, or hollow tree that has not failed yet is a different call: a tree risk assessment tells you whether it can be braced or pruned, or whether it needs to come down before the next storm decides for you.
Calls and requests are returned during business hours. If a tree is on the house, blocking the driveway, or leaning, say so in your message so the contractor knows it is urgent.
Trimming, pruning, and tree health
Most trees are worth keeping, and pruning done to industry standards keeps them safe. That covers crown thinning and deadwood removal, structural pruning on young trees, lifting limbs off roofs and gutters for fire clearance, view pruning done without topping, dormant pruning for backyard orchards and old olives, palm skinning, and cabling and bracing for trees with split trunks that are still worth saving. Oaks and other natives have their own pruning calendars, and Sudden Oak Death has changed how dead oaks and tanoaks are handled in west Marin and north Sonoma.
Defensible space and fire clearance
Wildfire rules push the other way from tree protection. Marin fire agencies evaluate homes for defensible space on a regular cycle, San Rafael requires certain flammable plants to be removed citywide, and Sonoma County enforces a hazardous vegetation ordinance on unincorporated parcels. Insurers add their own letters. Limbing up, removing junipers and dead trees, clearing brush, and chipping are the usual scope, and Sonoma County exempts most defensible-space work from its tree permit requirement.
How it works
Use the form or call. We pass the details to a licensed local tree service contractor, who follows up to schedule a site visit and estimate. For permit questions, the contractor can tell you whether you will likely need an arborist report and who prepares it. You get a written scope and price before any work starts, and there is no obligation to go ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost anything to request an estimate?
No. Calling or sending a request is free and there is no obligation. We pass your details to a licensed local tree service contractor, who will tell you up front whether they charge for a site visit.
Which areas does Sonoma-Marin Tree Service cover?
Sonoma County, including Santa Rosa, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Guerneville, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Penngrove, Sonoma, Glen Ellen, and Kenwood, and Marin County, including Novato, San Rafael, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Larkspur, and Tiburon. Each town has its own page with the local tree rules we have confirmed.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my property?
It depends on where you are, the species, and the size. Most cities and both counties protect certain native or heritage trees, and thresholds vary a lot between jurisdictions. Dead or hazardous trees and fire-safety work are often handled differently. Check with your city or county planning department before removing a large tree. Our town pages summarize the rules we have confirmed for each place.
What license should a tree service have in California?
Tree removal and trimming for pay is contractor work licensed by the Contractors State License Board. Since January 1, 2024, new licenses are issued in the C-49 Tree and Palm classification. The older D-49 Tree Service classification is closed to new applicants, but contractors who already hold it can keep working. Before you hire anyone, look the contractor up at cslb.ca.gov and ask for a certificate of liability insurance.
Is an ISA Certified Arborist the same as a licensed contractor?
No. ISA certification is a voluntary professional credential from the International Society of Arboriculture that shows training and experience in tree care. It is not a contractor license. Many towns ask for a report from a certified or qualified arborist for permit applications, while the removal itself is done by a CSLB-licensed contractor. Some firms have both.
Is Sonoma-Marin Tree Service a tree company?
No. We are a referral service. We connect you with independent, locally based tree service contractors who do the estimates and the work. Our role is to get your request to someone who handles your kind of job in your part of Sonoma or Marin.