Tree Service in Alhambra, CA
Since 2018, Alhambra has asked for a permit before a protected tree on private land comes down. So before we trim or remove anything in its older neighborhoods, our tree service in Alhambra helps you check the size rules.
Tree care in Alhambra
Old streets, newer tree rules
Alhambra protects big trees on private land: an oak or California native counts once it reaches 15 feet tall or 12 inches thick. Other trees count at 20 feet or 24 inches. The rule took effect on August 23, 2018. Before a removal, the owner must tell neighbors within 300 feet. Fruit trees and most palms are exempt. The city took its name from Washington Irving's Tales of the Alhambra and became a city in 1903. Its 26 historic neighborhoods hold Craftsman, bungalow and Spanish-style homes. City crews trim each parkway tree every four years.
In Alhambra, height alone can make a tree protected — just 15 feet for an oak.
Who governs tree work in Alhambra
City of Alhambra
Tree work in Alhambra follows the city's own tree rules. Effective August 23, 2018, a Tree Removal Permit will be required prior to removing a tree on any private property within the City, with some exceptions. Removing or Trimming a Tree Pursuant to Alhambra Municipal Code Section 23.12.170, a Tree Removal Permit is required remove, top, trim, prune, damage, or otherwise materially alter a tree except those listed under Exceptions. Trees that qualify as Protected Trees shall also require replacement. Rules change. Confirm current requirements with the jurisdiction before work begins — filing a permit is the property owner's responsibility, not ours.
Source: Tree Preservation Ordinance
What we handle
Alhambra's size rules shape our removals, pruning and stump work
Supreme Tree Experts removes trees, prunes crowns and grinds stumps in Alhambra, where oaks are protected at 12 inches thick. Before a big tree beside a Craftsman home comes down, Alhambra owners check the size tables with Supreme Tree Experts.
Tree Removal
We remove trees on Alhambra lots after checking them against the city's size rules. Oaks and natives count at 15 feet or 12 inches thick, other trees at 20 feet or 24 inches. Before a protected removal, the owner notifies neighbors within 300 feet.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Our crews prune for health and clearance, with small cuts that leave the tree whole. Routine pruning needs no application here, as long as it does not kill or damage the tree. We never top, and we keep each cut clean.
Stump Grinding & Stump Removal
We grind stumps well below the soil so replacement trees have room. For a protected oak, the city can ask for two 24-inch box trees per 10 inches of trunk. We clear space for all of them.
Palm Tree Trimming & Skinning
Our crew cuts dead fronds and seed stalks from tall palms, then skins the old frond bases off the trunk. Most palms fall outside the city's tree rules unless they are California natives. Our lift truck for palms keeps the crew off the bark.
Emergency Tree Service
Our 24/7 emergency service covers trees that split or fall on homes. Alhambra declared an emergency after the 2011 windstorm, when mature trees came down overnight. A broken limb over a roof is a call to make right away.
Tree Maintenance
We check big mature yard trees each year for decay, dead wood, weak limbs and root trouble near foundations. Many homes stand in the city's 26 historic neighborhoods of Craftsman, bungalow and Spanish-style houses. Old trees often shade those lots.
Tree Height Reduction
We bring crown height down in small steps, with cuts back to side branches. Heavy cutting that materially alters a protected tree needs a permit here. Skipping it can mean a citation and double the replacement trees.
Estate Tree Care
Older gardens here often mix fruit trees with big shade trees, and we care for both on one yearly plan. Fruit trees fall outside the city's rules, but a large shade tree may be protected. We note which ones count.
Tree Shaping & Shrub Shearing
We shear foundation shrubs and hedges so walks and windows stay clear. A clean top with a slightly wider base keeps a hedge full and green to the ground. Clippings are bagged or chipped before we leave.
Landscaping
We plan yard planting and watering around the parkway tree out front. The city asks owners to water that tree twice a week in the hot months. We place beds and lines so it gets that water.
Hardscape
Our new paths and edging stop short of the parkway tree well. The city asks owners to keep that well free of weeds, and new work must not crowd it. Away from the parkway, we keep patios clear of big roots.
Alhambra tree questions, answered
Start here — these 6 cover most of what you need before booking tree work in Alhambra. If yours is not here, call 877-787-7363 and ask.
Not for routine pruning. Alhambra needs no application if the pruning does not kill or damage the tree. Topping, heavy cutting or anything that materially alters a protected tree does need a Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Division. Call Planning at (626) 570-5034 if you are unsure.
Fruit trees, most palms and dead wood. Palms count only if they are California natives. Trees in the rear and side yards of RL and RM zones are also outside the rule. So is work the city approves for an emergency or for traffic safety.
The penalties are steep. The owner must still file, pays a citation and plants double the normal replacement trees. If the removal was not part of construction, a one-year ban on new construction permits applies too. During construction, the city can also stop work until the permit is filed.
The city does the major work. Public Works trims each parkway tree every four years, neighborhood by neighborhood, and treats pests and disease. Owners are asked to water it twice a week in hot months and keep weeds out of the tree well.
Yes — $600 for tree services, wherever the job is. Whether a permit and replacement trees are needed shapes much of the cost here.
Yes, 24/7. Alhambra declared an emergency after the 2011 windstorm, when mature trees came down overnight. Call 877-787-7363.
What happens after you call from Alhambra
- 01.
Check the tables
An arborist measures height, and the trunk 4½ feet above the root crown, and notes where the tree stands.
- Oak or native?
- Yard zone noted
- 02.
Neighbors and permit
If a permit is needed, the owner applies to the Planning Division and tells neighbors within 300 feet.
- Owner files
- 300-foot notice
- 03.
Cut and replace
The crew removes or prunes the tree. Any replacement trees the city asks for can go in where the stump was.
- Stump ground low
- Replacement trees planted
Measured, licensed and equipped for Alhambra's older neighborhoods
Tree work goes wrong when it is rushed or under-equipped. We run our own 75-foot boom trucks, lift trucks, chippers and stump grinders, and every crew works under an ISA Certified Arborist — so the job gets done right the first time.
We hold California license #1002853 for both landscaping and tree and palm work, we are bonded, we carry general liability and every employee is on workers’ compensation.
ISA Certified Arborist
An arborist comes free and checks height and trunk size against Alhambra's two tables: one for oaks and natives, one for other mature trees.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
The CSLB lists us under #1002853 for tree service (C-61/D-49) and landscaping (C-27). We are bonded, with insurance for every worker.
Southern California Since 1985
In business since 1985 — our family is younger than Alhambra's Craftsman streets, but we have spent four decades around trees like theirs.
Our Own Equipment
Our own 75-foot boom trucks work over narrow side yards, and our own chippers clear the limbs as we go.
Reviews to read before you book in Alhambra
Every word below was written by a customer on Google, not by us. Long reviews are shortened to fit the card — never reworded. None of them was left in Alhambra: they come from customers across Southern California. Read them for how a crew behaves on a job, then decide whether that is who you want in Alhambra.
“Great pricing & service. Highly competent with tricky jobs. We have used them for more than 10 years.”
Melanie Butler
Local Guide
“We got bids from five contractors. After I talked to them all and checked out their licenses and work, we decided to go with Supreme. … The job took a day and a half, and when they were done, they left the place immaculate.”
Hank Shaeffer
“Great tree trimmers! I’ve used Supreme Tree Experts twice to trim the palm trees in my yard. … The guys who come out are quick thorough, and clean. And very careful not to damage property.”
Emilie Pacheco
“These guys have worked on my property 3 times now. They are always on time and do a fantastic job. I highly recommend them!”
Ray Thompson
“After soliciting several quotes on some difficult yard work, we chose Supreme because of their licensed Arborist Temis … The crew was extremely hard working and we couldn’t believe their continuous work ethic on one of the hottest days of the year.”
Gary Brown
Local Guide
Alhambra and the area around it
Alhambra sits in the western San Gabriel Valley, about 8 miles east of downtown.
- ZIP code
- 91801