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San José · Street-tree disclosure

San José street-tree disclosure when selling a house

Selling a house in San José can raise questions about the City-provided street-tree disclosure form, its timing, and related permit records. This guide organizes those official-source questions; it does not count trees, interpret permits, or decide whether a property satisfies City requirements.

General information onlyNo property outcomeOfficial sources controlSale-triggered topic to verify

Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready: July 25, 2026. Information may have changed since our last review. Verify current requirements and status directly with the responsible agency before relying on it.

Quick official-source answer

What the official sources publish

  • Confirm that Section 13.28.410 covers the transfer: The section addresses a sale or other transfer of residential real property. Confirm unusual ownership, mixed-use, or nonresidential facts before relying on this summary. City of San José ↗
  • Obtain the current City-provided form: The code calls for a form provided by the City. Bay Sale Ready did not confirm a stable current City-hosted download, so ask Trees and Sidewalks or an independently selected transaction professional for the current form. City of San José · Department of Transportation ↗

    This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 18, 2026. If blocked, start at the City of San José homepage ↗.

  • Research development-permit records separately: Use the City's SJPermits instructions to locate relevant permit records, then ask the City how those records relate to the conditional code language. Do not turn a portal entry into a tree-count or disclosure conclusion. City of San José · Development Services Permit Center ↗

    This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 18, 2026. If blocked, start at the City of San José homepage ↗.

On this page: official starting point · process · limits · sources · seller questions

Start with the official source

Ask the City's Trees and Sidewalks team or an independently selected transaction professional how to obtain the current City-provided disclosure form.

Verify at the official source ↗

Opening a record or portal does not mean that Bay Sale Ready has determined coverage, validity, responsibility, or whether a transaction may close.

Official-source dossier

San José street-tree official-source navigation map

This navigation map keeps the municipal code, City-form contact, development-permit records, and tree-work permit process separate. Bay Sale Ready does not host a substitute disclosure form, count trees, interpret permits, calculate a deadline, or decide a property or transfer outcome.

Official source record label

Read Municipal Code Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410

What the linked City of San José source says this record represents: The official code-library entry for Title 13 is the source path for the street-tree care and residential-transfer disclosure sections. Search within Title 13 by section number.

Keep this source or record separate: This code source does not create a Bay Sale Ready conclusion about transfer coverage, tree count, permit context, or property status. Ask the City to interpret the sections with the actual records.

Questions to verify with the responsible agency

  • Which code text and ordinance history does the City identify for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410?
  • How does the City interpret the transfer and development-permit facts being researched?

This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.

Verify at the official source: Municipal Code Title 13; search for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410 ↗
Official source record label

Request the City-provided disclosure form

What the linked City of San José · Department of Transportation source says this record represents: The Forestry page provides the City Trees and Sidewalks contact path. Bay Sale Ready did not locate a stable City-hosted download for the disclosure form named by the code.

Keep this source or record separate: Bay Sale Ready does not host, recreate, or identify a substitute form. Obtain the City-provided form and usage instructions directly from the City.

Questions to verify with the responsible agency

  • Where does Trees and Sidewalks provide the form named in Section 13.28.410?
  • Which form date, delivery method, and transaction instructions does the City currently state?

This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.

Verify at the official source: Forestry and Trees and Sidewalks contact ↗
Official source record label

Find development-permit records at SJPermits

What the linked City of San José · Development Services Permit Center source says this record represents: The City Permit Center page explains how to review permit status and related record information through SJPermits.

Keep this source or record separate: Permit records are sources for City review. Bay Sale Ready does not interpret them, apply the code's numerical fallback, or infer a tree or disclosure outcome from a portal entry.

Questions to verify with the responsible agency

  • Which development-permit record and attachments does the City associate with the parcel?
  • Which record does the City say establishes the tree standard referenced by Section 13.28.410?

This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.

Verify at the official source: Check Permit Status at SJPermits ↗
Official source record label

Separate disclosure from tree-work permits

What the linked City of San José · Department of Transportation source says this record represents: The City page describes its permit path for planting, pruning, or removing a street tree and provides the operational contact and application links for that work.

Keep this source or record separate: A tree-work permit process is separate from the residential-transfer disclosure and does not establish a Bay Sale Ready property outcome.

Questions to verify with the responsible agency

  • Which tree-work activity and permit record does the City identify?
  • Which inspection, arborist, or work material does the City request for that separate process?

This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.

Verify at the official source: Street tree permits ↗

Keep official records and supporting materials separate

  • Code section and City-provided form: The code names a City-provided form, but the code page is not the form itself. Obtain the form and instructions from the City contact. Verify at the official source ↗
  • Development-permit record and numerical fallback: A permit record and the code's conditional numerical text are distinct. Bay Sale Ready does not read the record and choose a numerical path. Verify at the official source ↗
  • Sale disclosure and tree-work permit: The disclosure process and a permit for planting, pruning, or removal are separate. One should not be presented as the other. Verify at the official source ↗

Version warning

No stable City-hosted disclosure-form download was located

The code names a form provided by the City, but Bay Sale Ready did not locate a stable City-hosted download during the July 18 review. The site does not reproduce an older or third-party form. Contact Trees and Sidewalks for the City-provided version and instructions.

  • Municipal Code Title 13; search for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410 ↗Online content updated May 4, 2026; codified through Ordinance 31316
  • Forestry and Trees and Sidewalks contact ↗City page; no publication date shown

General order of questions

  1. Confirm that Section 13.28.410 covers the transfer

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked City of San José source: The section addresses a sale or other transfer of residential real property. Confirm unusual ownership, mixed-use, or nonresidential facts before relying on this summary.

    Verify at official source: Municipal Code Title 13; search for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410 ↗
  2. Obtain the current City-provided form

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked City of San José · Department of Transportation source: The code calls for a form provided by the City. Bay Sale Ready did not confirm a stable current City-hosted download, so ask Trees and Sidewalks or an independently selected transaction professional for the current form.

    Verify at official source: Forestry and Trees and Sidewalks contact ↗
  3. Research development-permit records separately

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked City of San José · Development Services Permit Center source: Use the City's SJPermits instructions to locate relevant permit records, then ask the City how those records relate to the conditional code language. Do not turn a portal entry into a tree-count or disclosure conclusion.

    Verify at official source: Check Permit Status at SJPermits ↗
  4. Separate disclosure from tree work

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked City of San José · Department of Transportation source: If planting, pruning, or removal is needed, use the City's tree-permit instructions. The permit is free, but that does not mean inspection, arborist, or tree work is free.

    Verify at official source: Street tree permits ↗

Important limits to keep in view

  • Source-linked caution from City of San José: Do not use an older third-party form with a superseded code citation as though it were the current City form.

    Verify at the official source: Municipal Code Title 13; search for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410 ↗
  • Source-linked caution from City of San José: The code's numerical tree fallback is conditional; General Plan requirements, Director adjustments, or a written public-safety exemption may change the path.

    Verify at the official source: Municipal Code Title 13; search for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410 ↗
  • Source-linked caution from City of San José: Bay Sale Ready does not count trees, read development permits, or determine whether a property satisfies Sections 13.28.400 or 13.28.410.

    Verify at the official source: Municipal Code Title 13; search for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410 ↗

Official instructions and records

These links come from the same reviewed source register used by the guide. The dataset was last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready on July 25, 2026; each card shows its own review date.

Show all 4 reviewed official sources
City of San José

Municipal Code Title 13; search for Sections 13.28.400 and 13.28.410

Online content updated May 4, 2026; codified through Ordinance 31316 · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026

Verify at the official source ↗
City of San José · Department of Transportation

Forestry and Trees and Sidewalks contact

City page; no publication date shown · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026

Verify at the official source ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 18, 2026. If blocked, start at the City of San José homepage ↗.

City of San José · Development Services Permit Center

Check Permit Status at SJPermits

City instructions; no publication date shown · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026

Verify at the official source ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 18, 2026. If blocked, start at the City of San José homepage ↗.

City of San José · Department of Transportation

Street tree permits

City page; no publication date shown · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026

Verify at the official source ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 18, 2026. If blocked, start at the City of San José homepage ↗.

Frequently asked questions

Questions to verify, not legal conclusions

Do I need a street-tree disclosure when selling a house in San José?

Municipal Code Section 13.28.410 addresses a sale or other transfer of residential real property and names a City-provided disclosure form. Confirm the transaction facts and current City instructions rather than treating this summary as a coverage decision. Verify at the official source: City of San José ↗

When is the San José street-tree disclosure due?

For a covered residential sale or transfer, the selling or transferring owner must make the disclosure at least seven business days before completion. Confirm the transaction facts and current instructions before calculating a deadline. Verify at the official source: City of San José ↗

Where can I get the current San José street-tree disclosure form?

The current code requires a City-provided form, but Bay Sale Ready did not find a stable current City-hosted download. Contact the City's Trees and Sidewalks team or an appropriate transaction professional rather than using an older third-party copy. Verify at the official source: City of San José · Department of Transportation ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 18, 2026. If blocked, start at the City of San José homepage ↗.

How many street trees does a San José property need before sale?

Section 13.28.410 places numerical language in a stated development-permit context and also references General Plan provisions, Director adjustments, and a written public-safety exemption. This site does not count trees or select a rule; ask the City to interpret the actual records. Verify at the official source: City of San José ↗

How do I check San José tree and development permits before selling?

Use the City's permit-status instructions to research the available development-permit record, then ask the City how that record relates to the code. A portal entry does not establish a tree count, disclosure outcome, or property status. Verify at the official source: City of San José · Development Services Permit Center ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 18, 2026. If blocked, start at the City of San José homepage ↗.

Who maintains a street tree next to a San José house?

Section 13.28.400 and the City's Forestry page place ordinary care on the adjacent property owner. The City also requires a permit before planting, pruning, or removing a street tree. Verify at the official source: City of San José ↗

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Bay Sale Ready is a free, independent, noncommercial informational website. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any city, government agency, utility, licensing board, or professional appearing in a linked external resource. It does not provide legal, real estate, engineering, inspection, contracting, or compliance services. Requirements and professional status can change. Confirm current requirements with the responsible agency and verify current professional status before acting.

Published coverage: Oakland, Berkeley, Hayward, San José, and San Francisco. This is selected coverage, not a complete inventory of local requirements.

Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready: July 25, 2026. Information may have changed since our last review. Verify current requirements and status directly with the responsible agency before relying on it.

Official source changed or link broken? Email the page URL and source URL to hello@baysaleready.com. Do not include property or transaction details.