City of San Mateo Law Library
City of San Mateo Municipal Code.

13.40.140 Violations.

(a) It is unlawful for any person or entity to engage in, or cause, Major Pruning or Removal of a Protected Tree in the City without obtaining a permit to do so. This applies to any owner, possessor or manager of property who engages in Major Pruning or removes or allows or instructs another to engage in Major Pruning or remove a Protected Tree and to any other person, tree removal company or other entity that actually removes or participates in the Major Pruning or Removal of the Protected Tree.

(b) It is unlawful for any person or entity to:

(1) cause Damage to a Protected Tree compromising its health or structural integrity according to accepted industry standards;

(2) to cause Damage that is severely detrimental to its overall aesthetics;

(3) to remove fencing or other protective barrier surrounding a Protected Tree that was required as a condition of development on the property;

(4) to violate any provisions of this Chapter or the terms of any permit or Tree Protection Plan issued in accordance with this Chapter; or

(5) knowingly or negligently providing false or misleading information in response to any disclosure requirements of this Chapter or in application for any permit issued under this Chapter.

(c) Citizen complaints regarding a potential violation must be received by the Managing Arborist within one year of the alleged violation.

(d) When a tree has been removed from the site and its diameter is no longer visible, the Managing Arborist may rely on a stump measurement and allow use of photographs, neighboring trees, and or any other available methods to determine the diameter of the tree that was removed.