Placerville is my home base. I am Christopher Hodge, an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, I grew up in El Dorado County, and I work out of Placerville, which is also the county seat where the Planning and Building department reviews oak and tree reports. I serve Placerville homeowners, the Apple Hill area, and foothill properties with independent arborist reports, tree risk assessments, and oak permitting. No removal crews, no conflicts of interest.
Placerville is home ground
Because I am based here, I know the local trees and the local process firsthand. Placerville sits in the transition between oak woodland and mixed conifer forest, so a single property can hold California black oak, interior live oak, ponderosa pine, and incense cedar, each with its own risks and care needs. I also know what El Dorado County reviewers, right here in town, expect in an oak report, which keeps your permit moving.
Wildfire, defensible space, and foothill tree risk
Placerville and the surrounding foothills are fire country, and tree decisions here are also fire decisions. California Public Resources Code section 4291 requires defensible space around homes in these areas, achieved through spacing, pruning, and removing dead fuel rather than clearing every tree. I assess which trees are genuine hazards and which are sound, including fire damaged trees after a burn, so you keep the canopy you can and remove only what you must.
Oak and tree permits in Placerville
If your project affects native oaks, El Dorado County's Oak Resources Conservation Ordinance generally requires an arborist report or an Oak Resource Management Plan before a grading or building permit is issued, and I prepare those documents. One important nuance: it matters whether your property is inside the City of Placerville or in unincorporated El Dorado County, because the city has its own tree regulations while the county ordinance applies in the unincorporated area. I tell you which set of rules applies and prepare the report either way.
Services for Placerville
- Arborist reports for county and city permits
- Tree risk assessments and hazard tree evaluation
- Oak Resource Management Plans for construction near native oaks
- Wildfire defensible space and post fire tree assessment
- Diagnosis of tree disease, decay, and fungal problems
- Expert witness and tree appraisal
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Placerville?
It depends on whether your property is inside the City of Placerville or in unincorporated El Dorado County, and whether the tree is a protected native oak. The county's Oak Resources Conservation Ordinance applies in the unincorporated area, while the city has its own tree rules. I can tell you which applies to your address and prepare the documentation either way.
How much does an arborist report cost in Placerville?
A simple arborist report generally starts in the low hundreds of dollars and rises with the number of trees and the type of report. Because I am based in Placerville, there is no long travel charge for local work. Call or text (530) 391-6100 for a fee estimate.
Can you assess fire damaged trees?
Yes. After a fire, some scorched trees recover and others become hazards as the damage develops over the following seasons. I evaluate the cambium, roots, and structure and give you a written assessment of which trees are likely to survive and which pose a risk, so you are not removing trees that would have lived or keeping ones that will fail.