Tree Removal Permits in Pollock Pines
Wondering if a tree needs a permit before it comes down? Call (530) 454-8845. We'll match you with a tree company who knows the county rules and book a visit.
This page says what we found, with sources. It's not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency before you act.
Call (530) 454-8845or use the short estimate form
The subject of this page is tree removal permits in Pollock Pines. Next, a tree removal company in Pollock Pines comes out to size up tree removal permits.
Got a question on tree removal permits in Pollock Pines? Ask us. Tell us your Pollock Pines road and we find a tree removal company close by for tree removal permits. The real price comes at that visit.
What to expect with tree removal permits in Pollock Pines
Start with a phone call about tree removal permits. A tree removal company then comes to your door for tree removal permits. A photo helps, so have one ready.
Who makes the rules here around Pollock Pines
Pollock Pines is a census-designated place in El Dorado County. It is not a city. So the county's rules apply on your lot, not a city council's.
Three kinds of rules can touch a tree job in Pollock Pines:
- County rules. The oak ordinance, and the county's defensible space ordinance.
- State forest rules. These cover cutting timber. They have a list of exemptions.
- Other agencies. Work near a creek or river may need a state fish and wildlife permit.
We'll go through each, in order.
County rules around Pollock Pines
The oak ordinance is about oaks. Your lot may have a few. Per the Fire Safe Council, plain oak trimming and upkeep needs no permit. Cutting down an oak is a different question. Ask the county before you do it.
The county's defensible space rule is Ordinance No. 5186. It is about keeping fuel back from your home, mostly in the first 100 feet. It's not a ban on cutting. If anything, it pushes you to cut dead and crowded trees. See our defensible space page.
Not sure about your tree? Call the county planning office and ask. Have your parcel number handy.
Near a creek or river around Pollock Pines
The Fire Safe Council says that if your home is near a river or seasonal stream, you possibly need special permission to work on the vegetation. Contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife if you think you do. Pollock Pines has the South Fork of the American River to the north, so this comes up.
State forest rules, in plain words
California has a set of rules for cutting timber. The rules are in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations. Section 1038 lists work that is exempt from the state's timber harvest plan rules.
Two exemptions matter to Pollock Pines homeowners:
- Dead, dying or diseased trees. The rule covers harvesting dead trees, dying trees or diseased trees of any size, in amounts less than ten percent of the average volume per acre.
- Fire-safety cutting. The rule covers cutting trees in line with Public Resources Code sections 4290 and 4291. It limits this to trees within 150 feet of a legal structure.
There are conditions. For fire-safety cutting, small material over 1 inch must be chipped, burned or removed within 45 days. The cutting also has to follow city and county rules. The person doing it has to certify that the county has been contacted. A notice of exemption lasts one year.
There's a separate drought exemption too. It covers trees that are dead, or trees with half or more of the crown dead or fading, or with beetle attacks.
Here's the catch. These rules are written for timber operations. A homeowner dropping a few trees isn't normally running one. But if wood is being sold, or a lot of trees are coming out, ask your tree company if state paperwork applies. We don't handle that. Your tree removal company or a forester does.
Burn permits
Burning piles needs a permit. The fire district says residential burning of landscape debris is allowed only outside declared fire season. The permit is free and online. The pile must be no bigger than four feet by four feet. Check the burn day line at (530) 621-5897 before you light anything.
The contractor license
Before you sign anything with a tree removal company, check the tree removal company's contractor license on the Contractors State License Board site (cslb.ca.gov, "Check a License"). Ask for a written price.
Selling a cabin
If you sell in a high fire severity zone, California's AB 38 means the seller must give the buyer proof the home meets defensible space rules. The El Dorado County Fire Protection District lists the inspection fee at $205. If you plan to sell, sort the trees out first.
What permits and paperwork cost
Some jobs need no permit at all. When a permit is needed, it adds a fee. The bigger cost may be a tree expert's report.
| What | Usual price | Where from |
|---|---|---|
| Permit to remove a tree (where required) | $60 to $150 | Fixr |
| Arborist, national range | $278 to $1,054 | Thumbtack |
| Tree removal up to 30 feet | $150 to $450 | This Old House |
| Tree removal 30 to 60 feet | $450 to $1,200 | This Old House |
| Burn permit | free | El Dorado County Fire |
| Home-sale defensible space inspection | $205 | El Dorado County Fire |
Figures come from Fixr (January 2025), Thumbtack (June 2026), This Old House (March 2026) and the El Dorado County Fire Protection District.
Fixr says permit prices vary depending on where you live. Don't take $60 to $150 as a Pollock Pines price. It's a national number.
Why call us
- We find local crews who deal with El Dorado County work all the time.
- We tell them about any oaks, creeks or neighbors up front.
- We pass along your questions about paperwork to the tree company.
- Calling is free. You get a written price first.
Step by step
- Name the tree. Is it a pine, a fir, a cedar or an oak?
- Note where it is. Near a creek? On a property line? Near a power line?
- Check the basics. Dead, dying or crowded trees are the most common reasons to cut.
- Call (530) 454-8845. Tell us what you found.
- Ask the tree removal company about paperwork. Get the answer in writing.
- Ask the county if it's an oak or a gray area.
- Then book the job.
Permit questions
Do I need a permit to cut a pine in Pollock Pines?
The rules we found are about oaks, creeks and fire safety, not pines by name. State forest rules may apply to timber operations. Ask your crew you hire, and ask the county if you're unsure.
Do I need a permit for an oak?
Not for basic trimming, the Fire Safe Council says. For taking an oak down, ask the county first.
Can I cut trees for fire safety without asking anyone?
Basic fire-safety work is what the rules are for. But the state exemption says the work must follow county rules. Ask first when it's more than a few trees.
What if a creek runs through my lot?
You may need state fish and wildlife approval to work near it. Ask before the tree company starts.
Who checks all this?
Your tree removal company should know. You can also call the county.
Have a question on tree removal permits in Pollock Pines? Phone (530) 454-8845. We book a tree removal company for tree removal permits at your Pollock Pines place.
More help nearby
See defensible space, burned trees and all services.