About us: Sac Tree Quotes is a free referral service that connects Sacramento-area homeowners with independent local tree professionals. We are not a tree contractor and do not perform tree work, and we may be paid by the pros we refer.
Sycamores are some of the biggest shade trees in Sacramento-area yards and streets. The native California sycamore grows along the region's rivers and creeks, and its close relative the London plane is a commonly planted hybrid. Both can get large, both drop plenty of leaves and bark, and both have a few common problems that look alarming but usually aren't fatal. Before you remove one, it helps to know which tree you have — because in some cities, the species decides whether you need a permit.
The Sacramento Tree Foundation – California sycamore page calls the native California sycamore (Platanus racemosa) an essential element of Sacramento's natural wetland and river ecosystems. It lists the tree as large and fast-growing — 50 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 50 feet wide, growing as fast as 3 feet a year — and identifies it by its grey-and-white patchwork bark and star-shaped, fuzzy leaves. UC IPM describes London plane (Platanus × acerifolia) as a commonly planted hybrid (UC IPM – Sycamore Scale).
The distinction matters for permits. In the City of Sacramento, a native California sycamore 12 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet is a private protected tree, while a London plane on a single-family or duplex lot is protected only at 32 inches or more (City of Sacramento Urban Forestry – Tree Permits). Because the two can look alike, have an ISA Certified Arborist confirm the species — see arborist reports for tree permits.
In short, a sycamore that drops its leaves in May isn't necessarily dying. UC IPM's main advice for anthracnose is sanitation: rake and dispose of fallen leaves and twigs, prune and dispose of infected twigs in fall or winter, and avoid sprinklers that wet the foliage. It also notes fungicides don't reliably control sycamore anthracnose in California and that spraying large trees is usually impractical.
The better reasons to remove a sycamore are the same as for any large tree:
If you're not sure, see tree removal vs. trimming: how to decide.
Other areas: City of Sacramento · unincorporated Sacramento County · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · West Sacramento · Davis. In the City of Sacramento, removing a protected tree without a permit can bring penalties of $250 to $25,000.
UC IPM says pruning during winter improves air circulation in the canopy and removes the previous season's dead and diseased twigs, but severe pruning of large branches isn't a good practice for most trees because it triggers bushy watersprouts that are poorly attached and prone to powdery mildew. London planes are sometimes pollarded (cut back to the same points every year); UC IPM notes that removes all infected shoots but makes London planes more susceptible to powdery mildew. Pollarding is a long-term commitment, not a one-time fix. See when to trim trees and tree trimming cost.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to sycamores, so the best guide is height. These are national published ranges (estimates, not quotes) used across this site; Sacramento-area labor often runs above national averages:
| Height | Angi | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 ft | $150–$450 | $200–$500 |
| 30–60 ft | $450–$1,200 | $500–$1,500 |
| 60–80 ft | $800–$1,500 | $850–$2,000 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,000–$2,000 | $1,200–$2,500+ |
Angi puts the national average around $750 (most jobs $200–$2,000, with large or hazardous removals up to about $10,000), and HomeGuide lists an $850 average. Add-ons often priced separately include stump removal (Angi: around $100–$150 per stump), cleanup and haul-off (about $70–$95), and a permit where required (around $60–$150). A large sycamore over a house may need rigging or a crane — see crane tree removal cost. More detail: tree removal cost in Sacramento.
Tree removal and most pruning of trees 15 feet or taller is contractor work that generally requires a CSLB license under Business and Professions Code § 7026.1 (C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor). Get two or three written quotes stating what's included — removal, stump grinding (which needs an 811 ticket first), haul-off of the large leaves and bark, and cleanup. In spring and summer, ask the crew to check for active nests before cutting (Fish and Game Code § 3503). See how to hire a tree service, stump grinding cost, and how to prepare for removal day. Native oaks have their own rules — see oak tree removal.
In the City of Sacramento, a native California sycamore 12 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet is a private protected tree, so removal needs a permit. A London plane or other non-native sycamore is protected on a single-family or duplex lot only at 32 inches or more. Any tree in the park strip or other right-of-way is a City tree. Rules differ in other cities — Elk Grove, for example, lists California sycamore 6 inches or more as a tree of local importance.
Often anthracnose, a fungal disease that's worse after cool, wet springs. UC IPM says it's primarily an aesthetic problem that usually doesn't kill established trees, and most sycamores fully recover and regrow a second flush of leaves. Sycamore scale and powdery mildew can also cause early leaf drop.
Usually not for that reason alone. UC IPM recommends raking up fallen infected leaves, pruning out infected twigs in fall or winter, and avoiding sprinklers that wet the leaves. Removal makes more sense for structural defects, serious decline, or a tree that's simply too big for its spot — an arborist can tell you which applies.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to sycamores, so height is the best guide. National published ranges (Angi and HomeGuide) run about $150–$500 under 30 feet, $450–$1,500 for 30–60 feet, $800–$2,000 for 60–80 feet, and $1,000–$2,500 or more above 80 feet. Permits, stump grinding, and haul-off are often extra.
The Sacramento Tree Foundation describes California sycamore by its grey-and-white patchwork bark and star-shaped, fuzzy leaves. London plane is a commonly planted hybrid that can look similar. Because the species changes the permit threshold in the City of Sacramento, have an ISA Certified Arborist confirm the identification before you apply or cut.
We don't do tree work ourselves. Tell us about your tree and we'll connect you with independent local tree professionals so you can compare written quotes. Always verify the contractor's license and insurance at cslb.ca.gov.
Tree removal costs by area: Sacramento · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · Carmichael · West Sacramento · Davis · Natomas · Antelope · Fair Oaks
More guides: Stump grinding cost · Emergency/storm removal · Tree trimming cost · Palm tree removal · Tree permits · Tree fell on house: insurance · Neighbor & boundary trees · Oak tree removal · Dead/hazardous trees · Trees near power lines · Roots, sewers & foundations · Elk Grove permits · Roseville permits · Folsom permits · Citrus Heights permits · Rancho Cordova permits · Sacramento County permits · Davis permits · West Sacramento permits · Hiring a tree service · After a storm · Pine tree removal · When to trim · Defensible space · Landlords, tenants & HOAs · Trees & solar panels · Remove or trim? · Preparing for removal day · Eucalyptus removal · Crane removal cost · Tree removal in an HOA · Arborist reports for permits · Street trees: who's responsible · Sycamore removal