Sunnyvale tree work can start with a simple measurement

Sunnyvale’s orchard memory makes its tree rules easier to remember. This is a city that still keeps fruit trees in public view at the Community Center, even while the rest of the valley is known for tech campuses and busy streets.

For private property, some trees are protected and need a permit before removal. The first simple check is size. A single-trunk tree can be protected at 38 inches or more in circumference, measured 4 and a half feet above the ground. Multi-trunk trees have their own measurement test.

Street trees are a different layer. Sunnyvale maintains about 40,000 street trees, and removals are limited to trees that are dead, dying, damaged, or a hazard. Property owners can apply for a work permit for street tree removal and replacement at their expense.

Before cutting a large tree, pause and check which kind of tree it is: private, street, protected, or a public right-of-way issue. In Sunnyvale, trees are part of the old valley story and the current city system.