In cooperation with the City of Saratoga and the Saratoga Fire District, The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council (SCCFSC) is managing the Saratoga Hazardous Tree Removal Cost Share Assistance Program. SCCFSC will reimburse 50% of the project costs, not to exceed $1,000 per APN. Funding is available on a first come first served basis.

Contractors will be hired directly by the applicant and the SCCFSC will reimburse the applicant upon receiving evidence of project completion and payment to the contractor. Contractor must be licensed in the state of California for the type of tree removal required. Please refer to the program requirements below. 

To have your project considered for funding please complete the application (linked below).

Submission of an application is not a guarantee of funding, you will receive notification from the SCCFSC if your rebate application is approved.

Program Requirements

To qualify:

  • Property must be located within the City of Saratoga or the Saratoga Fire District, and within a Wildland Urban Interface area. Click here to check your location.
  • Applicant must have an HIZ inspection completed by a FSC inspector (no cost to resident) 
  • Trees must not be removed prior to the HIZ assessment and approval of your application 
  • Only dead trees larger than 6″ diameter and 36″ above the ground are eligible for this program
  • Work must be bid (at least 2 bids) and completed by a tree or landscape contractor licensed in California 
  • A free tree removal permit is required from the City of Saratoga to remove certain dead trees. Submit your application and photos of the dead tree(s) on the City of Saratoga website
  • Only one tree removal grant per APN 

To apply: 

  • Fill out initial application form from FSC (application found below)
  • If approved, the project must be completed within 60 days

To request reimbursement:

  • Upon project completion, the homeowner will provide supporting documentation to the FSC including: before and after photos, payment to contractor, tree permit, and at least 2 contractor bids 
  • The receipt from the contractor must be for only removal of the dead tree and this must be explicit on the receipt. Costs for stump grinding or hauling away the tree/chips are not eligible for the rebate 
Click Here for Saratoga Hazardous Tree Removal Application

If you have any problems submitting your pictures through the application form above you can forward your “application email confirmation” that you will receive from SCCFSC after submission of application below and the above items needed to nvalle@sccfiresafe.org. Attached documents must be legible. A photo of the permit is acceptable as long as it is in focus, and readable.