# Our City Forest Free and Low-Cost Yard Trees

> Free trees from Our City Forest (Nonprofit) for San Jose, CA, United States.

Official page: https://ourcityforest.org/free-trees
Source: https://treerm.org/residents/programs/our-city-forest-free-trees-san-jose · Updated 2026-11-08 · Status: Open

**What you get:** Free 15-gallon yard trees with free planting or delivery in grant-funded zones; $150-200 donation elsewhere

Our City Forest runs a Community Nursery in San Jose where residents pick out 15-gallon trees. Residents at addresses inside grant-funded zones on its eligibility map get the tree free, including free planting or delivery by the OCF team; everyone else can take a tree for a tax-deductible donation of $150-$200. Recipients agree to care for the tree for at least 3 years as a Tree Steward.

## Who qualifies

Free trees are for addresses inside the highlighted zones on the Free Tree Eligibility Map (the plant-trees page describes these as eligible census tracts in Central and East San Jose; the free-trees page names a VTA-supported Sunnyvale program). A yard tree is any tree planted more than 11 feet from the street curb; 3 or more trees require an arborist consultation. Trees within 10 feet of the curb (park strip) need a City of San Jose tree permit, which OCF must see before providing trees.

## How to apply

Search your address on the Free Tree Eligibility Map, then visit the Community Nursery at 1000 Spring St, San Jose (Thursdays and Fridays 9am-12pm, Saturdays 9am-2pm) to select a tree; staff verify eligibility there. You can take the tree home or schedule planting or delivery with the Planting Team. In VTA-supported zones you can also email trees@ourcityforest.org or use the interest form. Nursery phone (408) 785-2302; street tree permit help at streettrees@ourcityforest.org. Submit an 811 ticket before digging.

**For:** Homeowners, Renters

> Note: Grant programs are available until funding runs out. The two OCF pages describe the free-tree zones differently (Central and East San Jose census tracts vs. a VTA-supported Sunnyvale program); use the eligibility map as the source of truth.

Delivered with Our City Forest: https://treerm.org/org/our-city-forest.md