Arborist Services & Tree Protection

Arborist Services   

Under general direction, the Town Arborist plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, reviews and enforces Town ordinances regarding heritage trees and landscape screening; acts as a technical advisor regarding forestry practices on public and private property; serves as staff to the tree committee and Planning Commission as needed; provides a variety of technical support to the department in the processing of plans and permits and attendance at a variety of regulatory meetings; and performs related work as required.

Sally Bentz
Town Arborist
650-752-0526
Email Sally Bentz 

(Town Arborist in-person counter hours: Tuesday & Thursday 1-4pm. An appointment is not required.)

*Please note that City Maintained public trees are only located in the Town Center, Holbrook-Palmer Park, within Town medians and Northbound on Middlefield Road between Ringwood Avenue and Marsh Road. 
*All other trees are the responsibility of the property owner or adjacent property owner. 

To report a dead or dangerous tree in or near a public right of way or street, you can report to the Town by using seeclickfix. 

Atherton Tree Removal and Tree Protection Exemption (TPZ) Permits

• HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL APPLICATION (PDF)

Please note: The Town Arborist does not consult on private property. Please contact a private tree company. If your tree is found to be dead or dangerous, a tree removal application and fee can be submitted in person at the Town Center, Monday through Friday from 8-11 am or 1-4 pm or emailed to hluo@ci.atherton.ca.us and sbentz@ci.atherton.ca.us. We do not accept applications online or through the portal. Once the application and fee is received, the Town Arborist will complete the inspection.

• APPLICATION FOR HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION ZONE EXEMPTION (PDF)

(NOTE: Please email your application to hluo@ci.atherton.ca.us. Payment by check can be mailed to Town of Atherton, 80 Fair Oaks Ave., Atherton, CA 94027. Please allow two weeks for the Town Arborist to review. Permits will be issued electronically if approved and payment has been received.)

• HERITAGE TREE REMOVAL PROCEDURE AND APPLICATION TO PLANNING COMMISSION (PDF)
• PLANNING COMMISSION SUBMITTALS FOR HERITAGE TREE REMOVALS OR TPZ EXCEPTIONS
• TREE CARE COMPANIES LIST (PDF)

Tree Information

• Heritage Tree Preservation Guidelines Standards and Specifications (PDF)
• Recommended Trees List
• SOD Update
  

For information on trees on construction sites and tree protection, please refer to Building Department Arborist Service