Albert Lopez
Planning Director
Planning

Trees and the Urban Forest in Unincorporated Alameda County


a collection of photos of various treed areas of alameda county

Benefits of Trees

Trees provide many economic, social, and environmental benefits to Alameda County's unincorporated communities. In urban areas, the presence of trees can raise property values, lower energy bills, decrease pollution, cool down buildings and pavement, increase urban wildlife habitat, and support healthier and more connected neighborhoods. In the County's rural areas, trees help prevent soil erosion, decrease storm runoff and flooding, increase native biodiversity, provide shade and cooling, and enhance natural scenic beauty.

Trees are also crucial allies in the County's climate change response, sequestering carbon as they grow, decreasing energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions, and making neighborhoods more resilient to climate change hazards like extreme heat and flooding.

Street Trees

Street trees and other trees in unincorporated Alameda County's public right-of-way are protected by the County's Tree Ordinance (number O-2016-66) and managed by the Public Works Agency's Tree Program. Please visit PWA's website to learn more about this ordinance and the right-of-way Tree Program.

Trees on Private Property

There are currently no Countywide ordinances regulating trees on private property in unincorporated Alameda County. Recent public processes to develop the County's Environmental Justice Element and Community Climate Action Plan highlighted a need to explore strategies to increase tree protections on private property that consider both the benefits of a healthy urban tree canopy and concerns about preserving private property rights, and to explore adoption of a hazardous tree ordinance. In response, Planning Department staff are currently reaching out to community through a series of public presentations to gather information and, eventually, propose a course of action for the community and the Board of Supervisors to consider.

This topic will be discussed at the following public meetings:

  • Sunol CAC: May 15, 2024
  • Fairview MAC: June 2, 2024
  • Parks, Recreation & Historical Commission: June 6, 2024
  • Castro Valley MAC: June 10, 2024
  • Cherryland Community Association: June 13, 2024
  • Agricultural Advisory Committee: date TBD 2024
  • Eden MAC: date TBD 2024
  • Planning Commission: date TBD 2024
  • Board Unincorporated Services Committee: date TBD 2024

Contact Us

To learn more about the Alameda County Planning Departments efforts around trees and the urban forest, please contact Senior Planner Ali Abbors at [email protected] or 510-670-5428 or join our listserv to receive occasional email updates:


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