Emerald Hills is located in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, where homeowners must take wildfire prevention seriously. Yet San Mateo County's protected-tree regulations create expensive and time-consuming obstacles for residents trying to protect their homes.

Homeowners may be required by their insurance companies to prune trees and branches near their houses to reduce fire hazards and maintain insurance coverage.

However, San Mateo County requires homeowners seeking permits to prune or remove protected trees to obtain professional arborist reports. These reports can cost hundreds of dollars or more, on top of County permit fees and the actual cost of tree work.

Even when an insurance company identifies a potential fire hazard, homeowners can face additional requirements, delays, and expenses before they can address it.

This creates a frustrating contradiction: homeowners are expected to reduce wildfire risks while facing financial and bureaucratic obstacles to doing so.

We recognize the importance of preserving mature oak trees and protecting our natural environment. However, public safety, property protection, and affordable homeowners insurance must also be priorities.

We Are Asking San Mateo County To:
Waive or substantially reduce permit fees for tree pruning or removal required for documented fire-safety or insurance reasons.
Eliminate unnecessary arborist-report requirements for straightforward, insurance-required safety pruning.
Accept insurance inspection reports and other qualified professional documentation as evidence when evaluating fire-safety concerns.
Expedite permits for homeowners in designated High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Create a more affordable and flexible approval process for protected-tree removal when there is documented property damage or a significant safety concern.
Homeowners should not have to choose between protecting their property, maintaining insurance coverage, and paying substantial fees simply to address potential fire hazards.

We urge the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to reform protected-tree permitting requirements so that wildfire safety is affordable, practical, and accessible to all homeowners.

Please sign and share this petition to support reasonable tree-protection regulations that balance environmental preservation with homeowner safety and financial responsibility.