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In advance of fire season and drought conditions, the Community Development Director, in consultation with the State of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s San Mateo–Santa Cruz Unit and the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District, has issued a Notice Regarding Permit Exemption for Tree Removal. As described in the notice, the County has waived permit requirements and fees for the responsible removal of hazardous trees that present a significant fire hazard risk and a hazard to life and personal property, as demonstrated by meeting the criteria and requirements as listed below.
Criteria
- The tree(s) are located within the unincorporated areas of the County of San Mateo (areas outside of any city limits).
- The tree(s) are of the following species: Eucalyptus, pines, acacia, tan oak and bay trees. If assistance is needed in determining whether a tree is of a species that is included in this exemption, please contact the Resource Conservation District at [email protected] and send them a photo of the tree(s).
- Tree(s) are located: (1) within 100 feet of any habitable structure (including structures on properties adjacent to the property with the subject tree) or (2) within 30 feet of a public or private road necessary for emergency evacuations.
- Such tree(s) meeting the above criteria must be removed during the period of July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022. No notice to the County is required.
Requirements for Tree Removal Work
- Person(s) who remove such tree(s) must have written permission from the owner of the propert(ies) on which the tree trunk is located.
- Person(s) who remove such tree(s) shall be responsible for ensuring that all associated debris is chipped and retained on site and/or properly disposed of.
- Person(s) who remove such tree(s) shall be responsible for minimizing erosion and sedimentation. The following erosion control measures are recommended:
- Seed area of disturbance or use the chipped wood as chipped mulch over area of disturbed soil. Make sure to keep much away from foundations to deter termites and other pests.
- Staked fiber rolls may be used around the area of disturbance.
- Maintain erosion control measures continuously between October 1 and April 30.
- Additional Erosion Control Options for Sloped Lots:
- Keep tree roots in place on a hillside.
- Inspect your downspouts. Check and redirect water flow. Check to see where your downspouts and surface runoff flow. Direct downspouts so water flows away from the slope. Disperse water onto lawns or landscaped areas as far from the slope as possible.
- Redirect runoff with flexible pipe. Consider using flexible piping to transport down-spout runoff away from the slope. Consider using a dispersement tray at the end of the pipe to distribute the water over a larger area instead of concentrating it at one point. This can help deter erosion or pooling of water elsewhere in the yard. Note: It is illegal to discharge stormwater onto property you do not own, including public property and storm drains. Ensure the stormwater stays on your property.
- Install weed barriers by using highly-permeable landscape fabric across the slope face to ensure runoff can soak into the ground. If multiple rows are needed, place the first layer at the top of the slope and overlap the next row of fabric on top of the previous layer to allow water to flow under the downhill layers. This will prevent water saturation from concentrating at any one point.
- Plant new trees using native, non-invasive species.
- Biodegradable Straw Blankets on low to medium slopes (3:1 or 2:1) or biodegradable Jute Netting (up to 2:1 slope) to slow runoff and reduce erosion.
- If reseeding, use a native grass mix.
The San Mateo County Significant Tree Regulations (“Regulations”) generally require that a property owner secure a permit before removing a “significant tree,” which is defined as any tree with a trunk that has a circumference of thirty-eight inches (38”) or more when measured at four and one half feet (4 1/2’) vertically above the ground. However, Section 12,020.1(c) of these Regulations provides an exemption from the requirement to secure a permit to remove a significant tree when a specified official, including the Community Development Director or an Officer of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, determines removal is necessary to “remove a hazard to life and personal property…”.
Property owners must still apply for a permit before removing “significant” redwood, Douglas fir, oaks (other than tan oaks), maples, buckeyes and other trees not covered by the exemption.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PERMIT EXEMPTION FOR TREE REMOVAL
Date of Notice: June 23, 2021
Purpose: Inform the Public that No Permit is Required to Remove Certain Trees that Cause a Hazard to Life and Personal Property
Duration of Exemption: July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022
Issued By: Steve Monowitz, Community Development Director
Discussion
The San Mateo County Significant Tree Regulations (“Regulations”) generally require that a property owner secure a permit before removing a “significant tree,” which is defined as any tree with a trunk that has a circumference of thirty-eight inches (38”) or more when measured at four and one half feet (4 1/2’) vertically above the ground. However, Section 12,020.1(c) of these Regulations provides an exemption from the requirement to secure a permit to remove a significant tree when a specified official, including the Community Development Director or an Officer of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, determines removal is necessary to “remove a hazard to life and personal property…”.
The attached letter from Chief Ian Larkin of the State of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s San Mateo – Santa Cruz Unit identifies that current climatic conditions pose extreme wildfire hazard risks in the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. Based on this correspondence from Chief Larkin and consultations with staff from San Mateo County and other local agencies, I conclude that certain trees, by virtue of species and location, present a hazard to life and personal property while these conditions persist.
Specifically, all eucalyptus, pines, acacia, tan oak and bay trees within the unincorporated area of San Mateo County and located: (1) within 100 feet of any habitable structure (including structures on properties adjacent to the property with the subject tree) or (2) within 30 feet of a public or private road necessary for emergency evacuations, present a significant fire hazard risk and a hazard to life and personal property. Such trees may therefore be removed without a Significant Tree Removal Permit during the period of July 1, 2021 to July 1, 2022.
Persons who remove such trees must have written permission from the owner of the property on which the tree is located and are responsible for ensuring that all associated debris is chipped and retained on site and/or properly disposed of. If assistance is needed in determining whether a tree is of a species that is included in this exemption, please contact the Resource Conservation District at [email protected]
455 County Center,
2nd Floor Redwood City,
CA 94063 650-599-7310
www.planning.smcgov.org
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION SAN MATEO – SANTA CRUZ UNIT
6059 HIGHWAY 9, FELTON, CA 95018
(831) 335-5353
Website: www.fire.ca.gov
June 10, 2021
Steve Monowitz
Community Development Director
County of San Mateo
455 County Center, Second Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Re: Tree Permit Exemption Request Due to Current Fire Hazard Conditions
Dear Mr. Monowitz,
As we saw last year during the CZU Lighting Complex, local wildfire conditions are becoming increasingly dangerous. In one 24-hour period last August we saw more acres of San Mateo County consumed by wildfire than in the previous 100 years combined. Since then, we have received below average rainfall that has resulted in exceptional drought conditions, widespread tree mortality, and below average fuel and soil moistures. Considering this, I, as an Officer of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, am requesting that the County of San Mateo take immediate specific exemptive action related to tree removal permits for certain non-native species. Exempting these trees from the tree removal permitting process will help to increase defensible space and minimize the hazard they pose to life and personal property.
Specifically, I am requesting that you utilize your emergency powers, under Section 12.020.1 and 12.027 of the San Mateo County Significant Tree Ordinance, to exempt permitting requirements for eucalyptus (all species), pines (all species), acacia, tan oak and bay trees within 100’ of any habitable structure, (including structures on adjacent properties) or within 30’ of a driveway/access road, from July 1, 2021 until July 1, 2022.
This action is an important step to empowering property owners to take the actions necessary to create defensible space. Your action on this request will have an immediate meaningful impact on the safety of the community as we enter what looks to be another busy peak fire season. I look forward to discussing this further and appreciate your assistance on this very important issue.
Best regards,
Ian Larkin
Unit Chief
CAL FIRE San Mateo – Santa Cruz Unit
Author: Coastside Buzz
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