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Permit for Tree Removal in Folsom

Wondering if your tree needs a permit in Folsom? Call us now at (279) 277-3417. We'll connect you with a local tree removal company in Folsom and book a visit. First, work through the steps below. They take about ten minutes and can save real money.

Call (279) 277-3417or ask for an estimate online

What the problem looks like for tree removal in Folsom

You want a tree gone. Maybe it's an oak that drops limbs on the patio. Maybe it's a big old tree that blocks the driveway. You call someone, and they ask, "Is it protected?" And you have no idea.

That's a fair question in Folsom. The city has a tree ordinance, and it's Chapter 12.16 of the Folsom Municipal Code. The City Council adopted a Tree Preservation Ordinance in 1995. Then it adopted Ordinance No. 1299 on January 28, 2020, which replaced the old one. The new rules and a new mitigation fee began on April 1, 2020.

Cutting a protected tree without a permit can cost you. So the smart move is to check first.

Step 1: Find out what the city protects

The city's tree standards say protected trees come in four kinds:

• Native oaks. The list names valley oak, blue oak, interior live oak and coast live oak.
• Heritage trees. These are trees on the city's Master Tree List that are over 30 inches across. A tree with many trunks counts when the trunks add up to 50 inches or more.
• Landmark trees. The City Council picks these because of their size, age, place or history.
• Regulated trees. Street trees and parking lot shade trees are in this group. So are trees a project had to plant.

On a blue oak, a trunk 6 inches across is enough to be protected. A multi-trunk native oak counts if one stem is 6 inches or more. Ask the city about the other oaks before you decide.

Step 2: Measure the tree the city's way

The city measures at 4.5 feet above the ground. It calls this the diameter at standard height, or DSH.

Here's an easy way. Wrap a soft tape around the trunk at that height. Divide the number by 3. That gives you the width across. Write it down, and take a photo with the tape in it.

Step 3: Know which work needs a permit

The city calls a permit like this a tree permit. It can be a Tree Work Permit, a Tree Removal Permit, or both. Taking out a protected tree is on the list. So is a lot of pruning. A permit application goes to the city's Community Development Department.

The tree standards say you need a permit to prune a protected tree when:

• You cut live limbs thicker than 2 inches, or
• You take off more than 10% of the leaves and branches.

Work that needs a permit has to be done or watched by an ISA certified arborist. The same rules say topping is strictly prohibited. Topping means chopping off the top of a tree. Don't let anyone talk you into it.

Digging counts, too. Grading, trenching and paving close to a protected trunk can need a permit. More on that on the trees near homes and fences page.

Step 4: What about a dead tree?

Plenty of folks think dead means free to cut. We can't promise that, and we won't guess. The city's own site won't open for our tools, so we can't quote its dead-tree page. Ask the city before you cut a tree that might be on the list.

One case is clear. A landmark tree can only come out after the City Council declassifies it. A report to the council lists a few reasons it can agree. One is that the tree is dead or dying and nothing else can help it. A pro can write up the tree's condition, but it still goes to the council.

What a tree removal permit in Folsom can cost

The permit itself isn't the big number. The mitigation is.

Mitigation means making up for the tree you remove. The city's reports say it can be new trees planted on site, an in-lieu fee, or keeping other protected trees. The in-lieu fee is $250 per inch. It's counted in inches of trunk, not by the tree.

Here's a real one. A rail project in a council report owed for 32 inches of trees. At $250 an inch, the bill was about $8,000. That was for a train line, not a back yard. But the math works the same for any tree.

Tree removal prices come on top of that. These ranges come from cost guides, not quotes:

• Heights under 30 feet $150 to $450
• Heights of 30 to 60 feet $450 to $1,200
• Heights of 60 to 80 feet $800 to $1,500
• Heights past 80 feet $1,000 to $2,000
• A look from an arborist, nationwide $278 to $1,054

Price sources: guides from This Old House and Thumbtack, read in November 2026. The mitigation fee comes from a Folsom City Council report.

Try the math on your own tree. Say an oak is 24 inches across and needs the in-lieu fee. That is 24 times $250, or $6,000, before anyone starts a saw.

Why people call us for tree removal in Folsom

You don't need to learn the whole ordinance to get this right. Here's what we do on a call:

• Ask what kind of tree it is and how wide the trunk is.
• Tell you if it sounds like a protected tree.
• Locate a tree pro who covers your neighborhood in Folsom.
• Set up the visit.
• Search for a second bid when you ask.

We can't file the permit for you, and we can't promise the city will say yes. The pro and the city decide that part. Our job is to get you to the right person quickly.

Tree removal in Folsom: the steps from here

1. Measure the trunk and snap two photos.
2. Note the species, if you can name it.
3. Call (279) 277-3417 or fill in the estimate form with the details.
4. Tell us what the tree is near. A roof, a wire and a fence all matter.
5. We pick a pro and fix a date.
6. The pro looks, then gives you a price in writing.
7. Ask the pro whether a permit is needed and who files it.
8. Wait for the city's answer before any cutting starts.

Questions about tree removal permits in Folsom