June 2021 – Borelli Architecture

Within our last blog we provided you with details on how to prepare your home for wildfire season. Within a week’s time, we received calls at our architecture firm in Incline Village and North Lake Tahoe as to how to get trees removed from property. So we did a little research. The following information was gleaned from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency website – to which we will give full credit for the content. In addition to the details below, there is lots of information on their site to help you be a good steward of the land.

When it comes to securing a permit to build your home, or other environmental requirements that are mandated with the Tahoe Basin, our team at Borelli Architect firm in Lake Tahoe and Carson City provides that service to you. For a complete list of the benefits that come with working with our team, click into our website right here.

In the meantime, here are the specifics as to how to get trees removed from your property with the Basin.

When is a tree removal permit needed?

Tree Size

A permit is required to remove live trees greater than 14 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) as long as the house is not along the lakeshore.

If the house is along the lakeshore, a permit is required to remove trees greater than 6 inches DBH between the house and the lake. Trees not between the house and the lake only need a tree removal permit if they are live trees greater than 14 inches DBH.

Trees of any size that were planted or retained as part of a permit, or that are in a Stream Environment Zone or backshore area, require a permit for removal. The backshore area is the sensitive area adjacent to the Lake.

Dead Trees

Removal of a dead tree that could fall on a house does not require a permit. A conifer is considered to be dead when it doesn’t have any green needles. A deciduous tree must be determined to be dead by a qualified forester. To remove a dead tree that isn’t near a house, contact a TRPA forester to determine if a permit is required.

Substantial Trimming

A permit is required for removal of branches from the upper 2/3 of the total height of the tree, unless the branch:

Is within 10 feet of a chimney outlet, building or deck
Is rubbing or pulling on utility lines within your property boundary (always consult your power company before removing branches near utility lines)
Is dead

Sensitive Areas

Any manipulation of live vegetation within SEZs or the backshore of Lake Tahoe, including trees and shrubs, requires TRPA review.

Construction Projects

Trees that are permitted for removal as part of a development project do not need a separate tree removal permit.

How to Determine DBH

DBH stands for “diameter at breast height.” Breast height is 4.5 feet off the ground, measured on the uphill side of the tree. Measure around the outside of the tree at breast height to determine the circumference, and then divide that number by 3.14 to get the diameter. A tree with a diameter of 14 inches has a circumference of 43.9 inches.

In conclusion, never hesitate to contact our architecture and design firm in Tahoe. We have lived and worked in the Basin for over 30 years and would be happy to answer any questions you may have about mountain home design or the numerous regulations that you need to adhere to when you are ready to build or remodel your home in Lake Tahoe.

James P. Borelli
Founder/Principal
Borelli Architecture
Lake Tahoe / Truckee
jim@borelliarchitecture.com
775.831.3060

With an extremely low snow year behind us, fire prevention and preparation is top of mind for all of us who live in the Tahoe Basin.

In an effort to help us all be prepared, I am sharing a blog from last year that is just as relevant, if not more so, this year.

The following article written by Tia Rancourt, Public Education/Information Officer, for the North Lake Tahoe Fire District. If you would like more information, please contact her directly at 775-813-8106, trancourt@nltfpd.net

WEATHER & FIRE SAFETY INFORMATION – PREPARING FOR FIRE EVACUATION

As we have been experiencing lately, fires started by lightning peak in the summer months and in the late afternoon and early evening. Know what to do to keep you and your family safe when storms strike.

If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance of lightning. Look for shelter inside a home, large building, or a hard-topped vehicle right away.
Do not go under trees for shelter. There is no place outside that is safe during a thunderstorm.
Wait at least 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder before leaving your shelter.
Stay away from windows and doors. Stay off porches.
There is no safe place outside. Places with only a roof on sports fields, golf courses, and picnic areas are not safe during a lightning storm. Small sheds should not be used.
If a person is struck by lightning, call 9-1-1. Get medical help right away.

Facts & figures from National Fire Protection Association:

During 2007-2011, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 22,600 fires started by lightning. These fires caused annual averages of
- 9 civilian deaths
- 53 civilian injuries
- $451 million in direct property damage
Fires started by lightning peak in the summer months and in the late afternoon and early evening.
For more information on lightning safety please visit www.nfpa.org.

Please keep in mind that with the drier than normal conditions this summer, it is important to create and maintain defensible space around your home. Visit tahoelivingwithfire.com for more information and “Fight fire with a plan.”

Prepare your family, property, and possessions now before a wildfire starts by creating a plan:

Develop a family evacuation plan
Create and maintain defensible space
Assemble a Go-bag and a disaster supply kit for your home and vehicle
Sign up for emergency notifications for residents and visitors and stay informed
Reduce the threat of wildfire by learning about embers and how to harden your home.

If you plan on water recreation activities on Lake Tahoe, please remember the temperature can be colder than most, as it is an Alpine lake. Whether boating, jet skiing, kayaking, rafting, paddle boarding or swimming, it is important to inform yourself about the colder temperatures and the forecasted weather as it can change very quickly, please visit National Weather Service.

On behalf of our entire team at Borelli Architecture in Incline Village on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, we encourage you to take preventative measures as noted above. Be safe.