Sausalito's view ordinance: the claim, the arborist report it requires, and the Planning Commission's role

What the ordinance protects (11.12.020, 11.12.040)

• View: vistas such as the Bay, neighboring communities, hills and wooded areas; the term "does not mean an unobstructed panorama."
• Obstruction: "any blocking or diminishment of a view or sunlight attributable to the growth" of trees, or their appearance, maintenance or location.
• Baseline: the Commission considers "the extent of the view that existed at the time claimant(s) purchased the property," and whether the claimant seeks to create, enhance or restore a view.
• Standard: vegetation may not be maintained so as to "unreasonably obstruct the view from or the sunlight reaching other property."

The process for private trees (11.12.040)

1. Initial reconciliation. Written notice of concerns to the tree owner, ideally with an arborist report and a personal discussion.
2. Mediation. Proposed by the claimant, voluntary; the owner has 30 days to accept or reject. The mediator cannot issue binding orders.
3. View claim. Filed with the City, accompanied by an arborist report.
4. Arbitration or fact-finding. If both parties agree in writing, the Planning Commission sits as the arbitration board, holds a noticed hearing within 45 days (notice mailed to affected parties and owners within 100 feet, published and posted at least 10 days before), and its decision is final and binding, enforceable under Code of Civil Procedure 1280 et seq. If not, the Commission may issue a non-binding advisory decision; if litigation follows, "there shall be a rebuttable presumption in favor of the Planning Commission's decision." Parties may be represented by an arborist or file a written arborist report 15 days before the hearing.
5. Court. Anyone bringing a private civil action must notify the City in writing; the notice goes in the property file.

Restorative actions (11.12.040)

In order from least to most intrusive: no action; thinning to open windows; shaping to reduce height or spread using thinning cuts only (drop-crotch); heading or topping; removal with replacement planting. Shaping, thinning and heading are preferred where possible; topping is preferred over removal if it will not harm the tree's proportions, growth pattern or health, on arborist advice; "tree removal shall only be considered when all other restorative actions are judged to be ineffective." Where removal would significantly reduce screening or privacy, the owner may elect removal with replacement, and may establish the replacement screening first. All work follows ISA Western Chapter pruning standards. The owner obtains at least three arborist bids and the work proceeds under daily arborist supervision.

Costs

For private trees the Planning Commission sets the allocation according to the chapter's standards and the circumstances; the claimant deposits a percentage of the lowest bid as the Commission directs, the owner selects the contractor and pays any difference. For City trees the claimant pays for the work and the arborist, and the City Engineer, not the Commission, handles the claim.

Protected trees and penalties (11.12.030, 11.12.050)

On private property, coast live oaks of 4 inches DBH or larger, heritage trees (10 inches DBH or larger, excluding undesirable species) and dedicated trees are protected and need a permit, with an arborist report, for removal or alteration beyond routine pruning (foliage reduction over one quarter). "Undesirable" species (blue gum eucalyptus, Monterey pine, Monterey cypress, coast redwood, three acacias) are excluded from heritage status. Administrative fines up to $1,000 per illegal removal or alteration, remedial replacement orders with performance and 10-year maintenance bonds, stop-work orders, and liens. A view remedy involving a protected tree still needs the permit. Sausalito permit rules →

What the View Obstruction Report does in Sausalito

1. Is the arborist report the ordinance requires with the claim, written to the chapter's definitions and standards.
2. Documents the view at purchase against today, from the affected rooms, with photographs.
3. Identifies each tree to species and condition, flagging protected oaks and heritage trees and the permit consequence.
4. Recommends restorative action in the ordinance's order, with what each would do to the tree, written so the Commission can adopt it.
5. Can represent you at the hearing or be filed 15 days before it, at $250 per hour.

From $950. Also ordered by tree owners responding to a notice or claim. Start the report

Source

1. Sausalito Municipal Code Chapter 11.12, Preservation of Trees and Views, sections 11.12.010 to 11.12.050, reviewed October 23, 2026. Confirm current text with the City before filing.