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West Sacramento is in Yolo County, and the City of Sacramento's tree rules don't apply there. Its own West Sacramento Municipal Code ch. 8.24 (Tree Preservation) protects heritage trees, landmark trees, and street trees — on private property as well as public land — and it regulates major pruning, not just removal. We didn't find a single-family-home exemption. Here's what the code and the city's pages say.
The city's City of West Sacramento – Trees page says major pruning or removal of these trees requires a permit:
The code adds the details (§ 8.24.020): for multi-trunk trees, circumference is the sum of each trunk's circumference; a landmark tree is any tree or stand of trees designated by the City Council as especially prominent, stately, or historically significant; and the "tree maintenance strip" for street trees is 12.5 feet wide, measured from the back of the curb — or from the edge of the pavement where there's no curb. Note that West Sacramento measures circumference (around the trunk), not diameter like most nearby cities — wrap a tape measure around the trunk at 4.5 feet.
Who maintains street trees? Under § 8.24.030, street trees (except those in a median) are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner, and owners must keep their trees from endangering their own or others' property. The city's page adds that trees on city property, and trees in the streetscape planter between sidewalk and curb within a Community Facilities District (CFD), are generally maintained by the city's tree contractor — and that replacing a city tree in a CFD streetscape is at the tree administrator's discretion.
For heritage and landmark trees (§ 8.24.060) and street trees (§ 8.24.040), you need a tree permit from the city's tree administrator before you:
Planting a tree in the street maintenance strip also needs a permit unless it's a species in the city's Landscape Development Guidelines. During construction on a property with a protected tree, § 8.24.070 also requires a permit for things like trenching, grading, or paving, parking vehicles, or storing materials within one foot outside the drip line, or changing the tree's irrigation or drainage. Development projects must submit a tree plan (§ 8.24.090) with protective fencing one foot outside the drip line.
Under § 8.24.080, start by contacting the tree administrator to discuss the work; they may inspect the site and will confirm whether a permit is needed. The city's page lists 916-617-4620 and [email protected] and links to the online tree permit application. The application must be signed by the property owner or an authorized agent and include:
We don't list a permit fee — confirm the current fee with the city. The city's page also notes that the city doesn't inspect private trees as a service, but a city arborist will inspect city trees and private protected trees when a pruning or removal permit is requested. For an independent opinion, find an arborist in ISA's Find an Arborist directory.
The tree administrator weighs the tree's condition (disease, health, damage, danger of falling, proximity to structures, utility interference), the number of trees in the area and the effect on public safety and neighborhood welfare, mitigation or replacement, steps to avoid removal, effects on development of the site, and zoning. A decision is due within 30 days of a complete application; if none is made, the code treats the permit as denied and gives the applicant a no-cost appeal hearing. Decisions can be appealed to the city's hearing officer (§ 8.24.130).
Who does the work: the city can require the work be done by someone it considers qualified who holds a valid West Sacramento business license, and the tree contractor must give the tree administrator proof of current liability insurance before the permit is finally issued. The permit must be posted conspicuously near the tree during removal.
Replacement (§ 8.24.084):
Under § 8.24.110, an owner may act in an emergency to reduce a dangerous condition, but must notify the tree administrator the next working day. The city's page says that if a tree was removed because it was an imminent threat to safety or infrastructure, or because it failed, you should document the problem with photos and submit them with a (retroactive) permit — and that trees removed without a permit or just cause are subject to fines and/or mitigation. See our emergency tree removal guide.
Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail, with each tree and each day counted as a separate offense (§ 8.24.140); the city can also issue stop-work orders and require mitigation and replacement.
For typical prices, see tree removal cost in West Sacramento. Across the river in the City of Sacramento? See Sacramento tree permits.
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.
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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