Malibu
Tree Service in Malibu, CA
Need tree work in Malibu? Call 310-455-8250 and we will connect you with a licensed, insured tree service for trimming, removal, stump grinding or storm- and fire-damaged trees. Malibu is its own city, with its own protected-tree rules and brush clearance deadline, so a job that is simple in Santa Monica can need a permit here.
City of Malibu
Tree Care in Malibu
Malibu has been its own city since March 28, 1991, so neither Santa Monica's nor Los Angeles's tree rules apply. Fire protection and brush clearance inspections come from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Fire has shaped a lot of Malibu's trees. The 2018 Woolsey Fire burned 96,949 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the December 2024 Franklin Fire started on Malibu Canyon Road, and a City report counts 683 units destroyed and 132 damaged on Malibu properties in the January 2025 Palisades Fire. Damaged trees, replanting and clearance pruning are all common calls: see tree removal and tree planting.
Nearby, see Pacific Palisades, also hit by the 2025 fire. Or see all the areas we serve.
Before you cut
Malibu's Protected Native Trees
The City of Malibu protects five native trees, and says they need a permit before they are trimmed or removed, with any removal approved by the City Biologist:
- Native oaks
- California walnut
- Western sycamore
- Alder
- Toyon
Under the city's Local Implementation Plan, a tree counts once one trunk is 6 inches or more across, or two trunks add up to 8 inches, measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Its protected zone reaches at least 5 feet past the dripline, or 15 feet from the trunk, whichever is greater, and approved work inside that zone must use hand tools. Where removal is allowed, the plan requires at least 10 replacement trees for every tree removed.
So before any work on an oak, sycamore or toyon, check with the city. Tell us the species when you call.
LA County Fire rules
Brush Clearance in Malibu
June 1 is Malibu's deadline for mandatory brush clearance, and Los Angeles County Fire starts inspections in coastal communities on June 1. The County's 2026 notice asks owners to:
- Clear combustible plants within 30 feet of structures (50 feet in extra-hazard areas).
- Thin the remaining vegetation for the next 70 feet, for 100 feet in total, and up to 200 feet where required.
- Not remove trees ahead of inspection: in most cases the County says corrective trimming and pruning is enough.
Homes destroyed or more than 25% damaged in the Franklin or Palisades fires are excused from 2026 inspection fees. The City's Fire Safety Liaisons also offer free Home Wildfire Assessments.
Coast and views
Ocean Views and Sea Spray
Malibu has its own process for views blocked by trees. View Restoration covers primary views significantly blocked by foliage within 1,000 feet, and works through letters, mediation and arbitration before it ever reaches court. If you are trimming for a view, it helps to know whether the city has a Primary View Determination on file for the property.
Salt is the other coastal factor. UC's pest management guidance notes that sea spray browns leaves from the tips and edges, often on the side facing the ocean breeze. Brown foliage on that side is not always a sign the tree is dying, so have it looked at before you remove it.
What we arrange
Tree Services in Malibu
Questions
Frequently Asked
Do I need a permit to trim an oak in Malibu?
The City of Malibu says its five protected native trees, which are native oaks, California walnut, western sycamore, alder and toyon, need a permit before they are trimmed or removed. Check with the city before any work on them.
When is the brush clearance deadline in Malibu?
June 1. Los Angeles County Fire begins its inspections in coastal communities on June 1.
Should I remove trees to meet brush clearance?
Usually not. Los Angeles County Fire says that in most cases removal is not necessary if corrective trimming and pruning is done.
How much does tree service cost in Malibu?
It depends on the tree, access, slope and whether a city permit is involved. The estimate is free and there is no obligation.
Call today about trees in Malibu, from brush clearance pruning to fire-damaged trees, and get a free, no-obligation estimate.
Get Your Free Tree Service Estimate
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