Home / Counties / San Mateo County, CA
Last reviewed 2026-10-19

Tree Removal Cost: San Mateo County, CA

On the Peninsula, tree work means Monterey pines and cypress along the coast in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, redwoods and oaks on wooded lots in Woodside, Portola Valley and the Skyline ridge, and eucalyptus rows that drop limbs in winter storms. HomeGuide's nationwide 2026 report has most single trees at $400 to $1,200.

The county's woods are an even split of oak and redwood. The Forest Service's 2024 FIA evaluation for California estimates about 83,400 acres of forest land in San Mateo County: western oak 28.6%, redwood 28.5%, other hardwoods 22.9% and tanoak/laurel 20.0%.

The Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 457 single-family buildings authorized in San Mateo County in 2025, after 521 in 2024.

Cost at a glance

San Mateo County tree removal cost at a glance
ItemTypical costSource
Typical single tree$400-$1,200HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Pine$250-$1,600HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Tree 60-80 ft$850-$2,000HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
County protected tree removal permit$670San Mateo County Planning
County pruning permit$550San Mateo County Planning
County expedited removal$430San Mateo County Planning

Permits

In unincorporated San Mateo County, a tree of 12 inches in diameter or more at breast height is protected and needs a County permit to remove, and the County's rules drop the threshold to 6 inches in the Residential Hillside (RH) district; indigenous trees such as oak, madrone and buckeye are protected at smaller sizes. The County lists approximate fees of $670 for a protected tree removal permit, $550 for pruning and $430 for an expedited removal, with an arborist report usually required and replacement trees often a condition. The updated ordinance isn't in effect in the Coastal Zone, where the older Heritage and Significant Tree rules still apply. Cities such as Redwood City, Menlo Park and San Mateo have their own tree rules.

Burning: the Bay Area Air District's Regulation 5 prohibits burning residential yard waste.

Clearance: along Skyline and in the coastside hills, many lots fall in mapped fire hazard zones, where Public Resources Code Section 4291 asks for a 100-foot defensible-space buffer.

Step 1: check whether you're in a city, the unincorporated County or the Coastal Zone. Step 2: measure the trunk; if it's protected, apply before cutting. Step 3: plan chipping or haul-off. Step 4: compare itemized written bids. Step 5: call 811 before stump grinding.

Local conditions

Steep ground near the coast: west of Skyline, NRCS's San Mateo Area survey (CA637) maps 85.0% of acres on grades of 15% or more and half of them, 50.1%, with bedrock inside roughly 39 inches (100 cm); redwoods above Pescadero and La Honda often come down in sections.

Bayside: in the Eastern Part survey (CA689), slopes of 15% or more cover 32.1% of acres, mostly in the hills above the bay, while flat bayfront clay holds shallow roots.

Winter storms: FEMA's declarations data list 15 weather-related major disasters for San Mateo County, including 7 severe storms and 5 floods; the January and April 2023 storms brought down eucalyptus, pines and cypress across the Peninsula.

Fire: the August 2020 wildfires, declared August 22, 2020, burned into the southern coastside, and redwood and tanoak forest near homes drives defensible-space work.

What drives local prices

  • Species: HomeGuide's table lists pine at $250-$1,600, cedar at $600-$2,000 and oak at $300-$2,500; big redwoods and eucalyptus often need cranes.
  • Height: old Monterey pines and cypress along the coast commonly stand 60-80 ft, a size HomeGuide puts at $850-$2,000.
  • Permits: the County's $670 removal permit plus an arborist report adds cost, and San Mateo County Planning lists 1 to 2 months for approval.
  • Access: steep coastside lots and tight Peninsula yards mean rigging; HomeGuide lists hourly rates of $100-$400+.
  • Stump: HomeGuide's survey puts stump removal at $100-$500+.
  • Method: HomeGuide's nationwide February 4, 2026 survey is the source for species, height, hourly and stump dollars, so treat them as a yardstick rather than Peninsula bids; the $670, $550 and $430 permit fees are San Mateo County Planning's own listing. Checked October 19, 2026.

Common jobs

  • Monterey pine, cypress and eucalyptus removal
  • Redwood and oak work under a County or city permit
  • Storm-damage cleanup
  • Defensible-space thinning along Skyline

Service area

We hear from San Mateo, Daly City, Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Burlingame, Woodside and Portola Valley. US 101 and I-280 run the length of the bay side, Highway 1 follows the coast through Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, Highway 92 crosses from San Mateo to the coast, and Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard) follows the ridge.

The bordering county page on this site is Santa Clara County, which meets San Mateo along San Francisquito Creek and the Santa Cruz Mountains ridge.

PG&E owns most of the lines; only its crews should touch limbs near wires. Ready for a price? Describe the tree in the short form at the bottom, and we'll answer by email.

Communities: San Mateo, Daly City, Redwood City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Burlingame, Woodside, Portola Valley

When something can’t wait

An atmospheric-river storm can lay a cypress across Highway 1 or a roof; for wires, PG&E or 911 comes first. Night and storm work commonly bills at 2 to 3 times normal, according to HomeGuide; the County has an exemption process for hazardous trees, so photograph the damage first.

Questions about San Mateo County

How much does tree removal cost in San Mateo County?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts a typical tree at $400 to $1,200. Redwoods, eucalyptus and steep lots cost more.

Which trees need a County permit?

In unincorporated areas, trees 12 inches in diameter or more (6 inches in the RH district), plus smaller indigenous oaks, madrones and buckeyes.

What does the permit cost?

San Mateo County lists about $670 for a protected tree removal permit and $430 for an expedited removal.

Can I burn tree debris?

No. Bay Area Air District Regulation 5 prohibits burning residential yard waste.

Do coastal properties follow different rules?

Yes. The updated ordinance isn't in effect in the Coastal Zone, where the older Heritage and Significant Tree regulations still apply.

Sources

Bordering county

Tree problems

Local fees and rules change. Confirm with the county or state office named above before you clear. For published price ranges, see land clearing cost per acre or follow the worked estimate. Estimate your clearing cost.

Other counties we serve

Free, no obligation

Ask about your clearing project

Tell us the acreage, what is growing on it and what the land is for: pasture, house pad, trails or a view. The form goes to Cornelia Cove LLC, which runs this site, and we reply by email. We use your details only to answer this request, and we pass them to a contractor only if you ask us to.

Bring a range from our estimator to every site visit. A clearing bid should price clearing, stumps, debris disposal and grading separately, and say who handles permits.