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Los Altos Hills, in short
Which trees do I need a permit to remove in Los Altos Hills?
Heritage Oaks. The Town’s Tree Removal Permit page says Heritage Oaks “require a permit in order to remove” and that “A Tree Removal Permit is not required to remove any other species of tree.” A Heritage Oak is any oak with a trunk 36 inches around, about 12 inches across, at 4 feet above the root crown.
The story of Los Altos Hills
Los Altos Hills, a Town since 1956, in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Town says.
The Town’s history page begins with the Ohlone as the first known residents, and says two Spanish-Mexican land grants, divided by Adobe Creek, make up Los Altos Hills. Cattle, vineyards and then apricot, plum and prune orchards followed, and in 1956 residents voted the Town into existence.
The Town’s history page says: “Ohlone Indians were the 1st known residents of Los Altos Hills.”
The page says two large Spanish-Mexican land grants, Rancho La Purissima Concepcion and Rancho San Antonio, comprise Los Altos Hills, and that “Adobe Creek was the boundary line of the 2 ranchos.”
The page says the ranchos were eventually parceled and sold as smaller ranches for cattle grazing and vineyards, mostly of Zinfandel grapes. Italian and French vintners lived on Purissima Road until a blight destroyed the vineyards near the turn of the century, it says, and “Soon after, orchards of apricots, plums and prunes flourished.”
“Santa Clara Valley became the ‘Valley of Heart’s Delight’ and so it remained well into the 1960s,” the page says; the Town’s 2016 History Anthology captions a photo: “In the 1950s, most of Los Altos Hills looked like this – a blanket of apricot orchards draped over gently rolling hills, as far as the eyes could see.”
Before the Town was incorporated, the page says, “residential development was constrained by numerous factors, including lack of a dependable water supply. Water from wells and creek beds was safe, but not always adequate.”
The Town’s September 2026 newsletter says: “In 1955, the Foothills Incorporation Committee drafted a historic leaflet known as the Green Sheets because of the light green paper used.”
The Town’s Town History and About pages describe the reason for incorporating as the “preservation of the rural atmosphere of the foothills and orderly and unhurried growth.” The Town’s anthology quotes the Green Sheets as asking that the area “remain residential, quiet, and reasonably rural”.
The anthology says a rainy election night ended: “By a close vote of 424 yes to 339 no votes the Town of Los Altos Hills emerged as Santa Clara County’s 14th city.” The Town was incorporated in 1956.
The anthology says the original single-building Purissima school was built in 1901 for $1,051, and that “The Council rented the school for $75 a month as a temporary town hall.”
A resident’s essay in the anthology says it was “acclaimed writer and Stanford professor Wallace Stegner who dubbed the town ‘God’s Little Acre.'” The anthology is the only source we read for that.
The anthology says the founders “designed a system of roads with multiple cul-de-sacs to minimize the intrusion of cars, maintain privacy and conform to the hilly, wooded terrain”, and its timeline lists the first Master Path Plan in 1961. The Historical Society’s timeline says that year Foothill College “moves to new campus”.
The anthology’s timeline for 2007 to 2015 says: “As a result of the drought and disease, thousands of evergreen and oak trees died all around town”.
The Town Facts page says that in 2005 the Town Hall “moved into a state-of-the-art building”, designed to showcase the heritage oak tree.
The Town’s September 2026 newsletter marks the Town’s 70th anniversary in 2026, and says the Heritage House remodel’s ribbon-cutting on August 19, 2026 coincided with it.
Fire safety
Your fire department
The Santa Clara County Fire Department provides the Fire District with fire and rescue services, the District’s page says, and “also provides Fire Prevention Services for LAHCFD and Town of Los Altos Hills residents.” The Town’s handout, updated February 2021, says the Town’s fire prevention, development review and inspection services come from the same department.
District page read Nov 2 2026; the Town’s handout is dated February 2021
Alerts
The Town’s wildfire page says: “Wildfire is one of the primary threats to Los Altos Hills.” It adds: “The fire department will send a message through AlertSCC.” and “The Town will send status updates through Nixle.”, and asks you to “Register with BOTH Nixle and AlertSCC.”
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026
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Where Los Altos Hills stands on the State’s 2025 fire hazard map
By our own estimate from the State’s 2025 fire hazard severity layer, about 15 percent of the Town falls in the Very High class, about 4 percent in High and about 35 percent in Moderate; about 45 percent is non-wildland. To see the class at one address, the State’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer for Local Responsibility Areas has a search box labelled “Find address or place”, and its legend names the three classes: Very High, High and Moderate. Santa Clara County Fire’s number on its wildfire page is (408) 378-4010 (listed there as its Administrative Headquarters).
Shared table of Nov 1 2026, our own estimate from sample points inside the Town’s outline; the State layer’s own page was not read
A local fire rule
The Town’s municipal code has a Fire Prevention chapter (Title 4, Chapter 2). Section 4-2.116(a) says that “any person owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining any buildings or structures in, upon, or adjoining any hazardous fire area” shall at all times “Maintain the roof of any structure free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth”. The code’s definition in section 4-2.101 calls a hazardous fire area land “covered with combustible grass, grain, brush, or wooded areas” where a fire “would present an abnormally difficult job of suppression”.
Code dated Dec 9 2025, as eCode360 lists it; read in Chrome Nov 2 2026
Vegetation and the County’s weed program
The Fire District’s vegetation page says it “encourages residents to use vegetation management practices to reduce the chance of large, damaging wildfires, by reducing fire hazards on their properties.” The County runs the weed abatement program, not the District: “While the County Weed Abatement Program is not managed by LAHCFD, the District is here to support your compliance efforts.” The County’s weed abatement program page lists April 30 as the inspection deadline for Los Altos Hills, and says: “All areas of the county are required to maintain the standards until October 31, every year.”
District pages undated, read Nov 2 2026; County page read in Chrome Nov 2 2026
The State’s separate Zone 0 rule: where it stands
The State’s rule for the first five feet around a home, also called Zone 0: adopted by the Board; in final review with the Office of Administrative Law; no effective date known.
Standing check of Nov 7 2026, read from the file Nov 2 2026
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Los Altos Hills this month
Storm season: the Town’s Notice to Residents says residents can come to the Corporation Yard at 27400 Purissima Road to fill and pick up sandbags.
The Los Altos Hills blog starts when there is enough local news to keep it current.
Culture and history
The pathways
According to the Town’s Town Facts page, the pathway system “comprises approximately 80 miles of beautiful trails and off-road paths” that “meanders around and connects most of the community, a sort of a town’s sidewalk.” The Town’s Pathway System page says the paths “provide a rare glimpse into the rural beauty of the Hills”.
Pages undated, read Nov 2 2026; the Westwind page gives a different mileage, so the figure is the Town Facts page’s
The Pathways Run
The Town Facts page says: “Once a year, the immensely popular Pathways Run is held by the Parks and Recreation Department, and residents of all ages participate in various runs.” The Town’s September 2026 newsletter calls it “the annual Pathways Run – a beloved town tradition that celebrates our trail network and fosters community appreciation”. The run’s own website, lahpathwaysrun.org, lists Saturday, May 9, 2026, as its date and shows no later one when we read it on November 5, 2026.
Town Facts page undated; newsletter of September 2026; read Nov 2 2026
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Westwind Community Barn
The Town’s page says: “Historic Westwind Barn is owned and operated by the Town of Los Altos Hills. The facility sits on 15 acres and is adjacent to the Byrne Preserve.” It calls the barn “the venue for many of the Town’s special community events”.
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026
Town Hall, the heritage oak and the orchard
The Town Facts page says the present Town Hall was designed “to showcase the heritage oak tree”, that Town Hall “hosts periodic exhibits of works by local artists”, and that 25 apricot and prune trees are planted behind the solar panels, with historical farm equipment on display.
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026
The Heritage House
The Town’s September 2026 newsletter says the story of the Heritage House “begins in 1909”, that the old house made its way across Foothill Expressway on a flatbed in 1985, and that on August 19, 2026 “a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the completion of the Heritage House remodel”. It calls the house a “vibrant cultural centerpiece of the Heritage Preserve”.
Newsletter of September 2026, read Nov 2 2026; the ribbon-cutting date is past
Hidden Villa
Hidden Villa describes itself as “An educational nonprofit stretching over 1600 acres of open space in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains”, and says “an additional 20,000 visitors come to explore our organic farm and gardens” every year.
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026; the figures are Hidden Villa’s own
The Ohlone, the ranchos and the orchards
The Town’s history page begins with the Ohlone and tells how two Spanish-Mexican land grants, divided by Adobe Creek, gave way to cattle, vineyards and then apricot, plum and prune orchards. More in The story of Los Altos Hills, below.
How the Town began
In 1956 residents voted the Town into existence, after meetings of neighbors who wanted to preserve what the Town calls “the rural atmosphere of the foothills”. More in The story of Los Altos Hills, below.
Community
Firewise USA neighborhoods
The Fire District’s page says it is “here to support your efforts to build safer neighborhoods that can reduce risks and losses resulting from wildfires”, and a new site starts with a board or committee of residents and other wildfire stakeholders, with a “Minimum of 8 parcels to start”. The page counts eleven Firewise USA communities in the District; its status map, titled March 2026, marks as Recognized, among others, Saddle Mountain, Fremont Hills, Natoma, Foothill Orchard, Corita Vineyards, Loma Wood, Dawson, Old Alpine and Hidden Villa.
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026; the map’s labels are the District’s own
Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
The Fire District contracts with the Council to manage and operate its Home Ignition Zone assessment and rebate program, the District’s advisory says. The Council’s own pages send District residents to the District’s sign-ups: “Los Altos Hills County Fire District residents, please use the LAHCFD HIZ registration”.
Advisory revised January 1, 2026; Council pages read Nov 2 2026
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Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association
The Town’s Programs and Activities page says the Association “is a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping horsemanship available in our community.”
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026
Adobe Creek Watershed Group
The Town’s 2007 Safety Element says: “Concerned citizens formed the Adobe Creek Watershed Group, which worked with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to prevent flooding, erosion and loss of habitat.”
The Town’s 2007 account (adopted November 8, 2007)
City rules and regulations
Permits for a re-roof
The Town’s “List of Projects Requiring Permits” begins “The Town of Los Altos Hills requires permits for the following items:” and includes “Re-Roofing of Buildings and/or Structures”. The list on the Town’s permit-forms page is dated August 7, 2020. The Town’s building fee schedule has a re-roof line; the schedule was adopted June 18, 2026 and is effective August 1, 2026, and the Town’s fee page has it.
List dated 2020-08-07, as it prints; schedule read Nov 2 2026; the code section behind the list was not read
How to file
The Town’s Building Department page says: “Beginning July 1st, 2024 All building permits must be submitted electronically through the Los Altos Hills eTrakit portal.” and “Users must create a user profile as either a contractor or homeowner prior to submission of a building permit application.” For smaller permits such as “Reroofs”, the page says you can submit by emailing the Building Department.
Page undated; the date inside the sentence is July 1, 2024
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The wildfire chapter of the building code
The Town’s handout says: “In January 2020, the Town of Los Altos Hills adopted the R337 Chapter of the California Building Code (Materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure) to apply to all new construction Town-wide.” It adds: “Adherence to these requirements for additions and remodels is encouraged, but not required.” The Town’s page that reproduces the chapter includes: “Roof gutters shall be provided with the means to prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris in the gutter.”
Handout updated February 2021, as it prints; the adopting ordinance was not read, so this is the Town’s account; the code page is undated
Heritage Oaks
The Town’s page says: “Any work or action that damages or causes a Heritage Oak tree to die is expressly prohibited.” A removal permit request “can be made by completing the Zoning Permit Application Form and providing information about the subject tree(s), such as size and location, and justification for why the removal is necessary.” If you and the Town disagree about the oak’s condition, “an arborist’s opinion must be obtained at the expense of the applicant.”
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026
Street trees
Each year the Town “contracts with a certified arborist to perform tree assessment and inventory on street trees, open space areas, and Town owned properties”, and Public Works then notifies property owners by mail “to remove any hazardous tree or tree part identified by the arborist.” The Town’s notice says maintenance and removal of street trees need an Encroachment Permit, and that the permit fee can be waived for applications for street tree removal or maintenance filed before November 30, 2026.
Trees page undated; notice updated October 23, 2026; the waiver ends November 30, 2026
Pathways on your property
The Town’s Pathway System page says: “Residents have responsibilities to keep paths on their property clear of brush, debris, and overhanging tree branches.” It adds: “It is important to be sure drainage is diverted away from paths to prevent erosion.”
Page undated, read Nov 2 2026
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Storms, flood and drainage
Free sandbags
The Town’s Notice to Residents, updated October 23, 2026, says: “Residents can come to the Corporation Yard located at 27400 Purissima Road to fill and pick up sandbags.” Valley Water says it “offers free-filled sandbags for residents of Santa Clara County”, from sites it manages, none of them in the Town, and that “Sandbag sites and sandbags are only available from November 1 through April 15 of each year.”
Notice updated October 23, 2026; Valley Water’s page read Nov 2 2026; check before you go
The Town’s winter checklist
The Town’s 2026 winter storm page asks owners to finish its checklist by November 2026. Among its steps: “Inspect your property for potential hillside erosion.” and “Keep yard waste and construction materials away from drainage areas.” It also asks you to “Check private and street trees for hazardous limbs or damage.”
Page read Nov 2 2026; its 2026 season and its November 2026 date
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Creeks on your property
The Town’s storm page says: “Check Valley Water’s creek map to determine whether a jurisdictional creek is located on your property.” and “If a Valley Water jurisdictional creek is located on your property, contact Valley Water regarding maintenance needs through its customer service portal”.
Page read Nov 2 2026; the creek map itself was not read
Flood areas, in the Town’s words
The Town’s 2007 Safety Element says: “Although most of the Town is outside the 100-year flood plain boundary defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), certain areas along the creeks are subject to flooding in a 100-year storm.” It says the main concern for flooding is centered on major creeks such as Adobe Creek and adjoining areas. FEMA’s community status book lists the Town in the National Flood Insurance Program, with its current effective flood map dated 05/18/09. Which map panel covers an address is not on any page we could read; FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center is FEMA’s own address lookup.
The Town’s 2007 account; FEMA’s community status book refreshed 2026-08-25
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Programs, loans and insurance
Check back Home Ignition Zone assessment and rebate: check back
The Los Altos Hills County Fire District offers, with the Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, a Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessment and rebate program to District residents. The assessment is “an onsite evaluation of your home and property”, and “The outdoor walk-through will take approximately 60 minutes.” The page says: “Residents may apply for 50% of the cost of implementing the HIZ recommendations for up to $3,000 per property, per year.” and “All residents may obtain one HIZ assessment and participate in the rebate program once a year.” Residents “are required to use a licensed contractor for vegetation removal, brush cutting, and tree trimming. Tree removal does not qualify for a rebate.” Assessment requests “are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and are limited in number per month”, and “Rebates are subject to District approval and funding availability.” Since January 1, 2026, rebate applications are submitted online, within 2 years of the assessment.
District page undated, footer 2026, read Nov 2 2026; advisory issued March 21, 2023, revised January 1, 2026
What the District’s rebate list names, gutters included
The District’s advisory lists examples of rebate-eligible activities, and says the list is “not exhaustive”. One is: “Removing clippings, leaf and needle litter, or other vegetation debris from gutters, from porch surfaces, or from under porches and decks”. The advisory says the District’s decision on eligibility is final. Neither the District’s page nor the advisory says whether the licensed-contractor rule covers this item, so ask the District before you book any work. The advisory lists home hardening and hardscape installations, such as “metal or fire-resistant roofing, metal gutters”, as not rebate-eligible.
Advisory revised January 1, 2026; read Nov 2 2026
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Check back Brush chipping: check back
The District’s chipping program is free to District residents: the page says its services “are provided to District residents at no cost.” You can sign up any time of the year, and the page’s table lists chipping in two-week windows, “Nov 9-20, 2026” (registration Oct 5-26) and “Dec 7-18, 2026” (registration Nov 2-23). The page says: “We cannot provide you with a specific date for service.” It takes “No wood larger than 8 inches in diameter”.
Page read Nov 2 2026; the dates are the page’s table
Monthly drop-off for District residents
The District’s monthly drop-off is for District residents only, at no charge, at Foothill College, Parking Lot 1, on the third Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with no sign-up. Its page lists November 21, 2026 and December 19, 2026 as the next two dates. “Only brush and yard trimmings will be accepted.” Bring a photo ID with your address or a current garbage bill.
Page read Nov 2 2026; dates are the page’s 2026 list
County-wide Santa Clara County Fire Department: free defensible space inspection
The Santa Clara County Fire Department’s page invites you to “Sign-up for a complimentary defensible space inspection through our Fire Prevention Division.” Its description names Los Altos Hills among the communities it serves.
Page read Nov 2 2026
County-wide Valley Water rain barrels, cisterns and rain gardens
Valley Water’s page says: “If you have an existing gutter or downspout system not currently capturing rainwater, Valley Water will help you install rain barrels, cisterns, and rain gardens.” It adds: “Current program funding lasts until June 30, 2027, or until depleted.” The Purissima Hills Water District’s page tells its customers that “Residences in Santa Clara County have the opportunity to benefit from surveys and rebates offered through the Santa Clara Valley Water District.” Valley Water’s own application portal lists its base rates: a rain barrel of 40 to 199 gallons, up to $35 per barrel; a cistern of 200 gallons or more, $0.50 per gallon; a rain garden, $1.00 per square foot, up to $300. The portal’s lifetime total for a single-family site is $3,000. It lists higher cost-sharing rates only for Gilroy, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto, Santa Clara and San Jose Municipal Water, and says all other sites get the base rebates.
Both pages read Nov 2 2026
County-wide Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley: home repair
Habitat’s page says services are “currently available in select cities in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties”, and its Santa Clara city selector lists Los Altos Hills. It names “roof repairs” among its critical repairs. The same page prints “Sorry, we aren’t currently offering repairs in your city.” as the form’s fallback message, and gives no income rule, cost or open status in the text we read, so ask Habitat before you plan on it.
Page read Nov 2 2026
Check back Earthquake Brace + Bolt: check back
The California Residential Mitigation Program, a joint body, runs Earthquake Brace + Bolt. Its 2025 Northern California ZIP list says “Eligibility based on ZIP Code only, city provided as reference.” and includes ZIP 94022, the ZIP the Town writes in its own address. The program’s page says “EBB program registration is open for a limited time each year.” The registration page says: “When EBB registration is open, you can complete the registration form online.”
ZIP list printed 2025; registration page read Nov 2 2026
State-wide Check back California Safe Homes: check back
California Safe Homes is a State grant program created by a 2025 law, AB 888, and run by the Department of Insurance. No dated State page we read says it is open, and none gives an application window or a dollar amount.
Standing check last run Oct 8 2026; California sheet read Oct 20 2026
Who serves your home in Los Altos Hills
- Fire: The Los Altos Hills County Fire District, whose page says it “serves residents of Los Altos Hills and the unincorporated areas known as Loyola, Los Trancos, and San Antonio Hills.” People in those three areas are residents of the Fire District too.
- Water: Two water systems serve the Town, by part of town. Valley Water’s retailer table lists the Purissima Hills Water District for “North to Stanford, east to Los Altos/Palo Alto boundary, south to Neary Quarry and west to south side of Page Mill Road”, and the California Water Service Company for the “Remainder of the town”.
- Sewer: The Town’s Public Works Department manages “capital improvement and maintenance projects for sanitary sewers, storm drainage, roads, pathways, parks, and other facilities”, its page says. The sewer page puts the lateral on the owner: “property owner is responsible for maintenance, repair, and replacement of lateral, from the building to the sewer main connection”.
- Garbage, recycling and compost: GreenWaste handles the Town’s garbage, recycling and compost under a franchise agreement, the Town’s page on them says.
- Electricity: Silicon Valley Clean Energy lists Los Altos Hills among the communities it serves, and the Town’s clean-energy page names its partnership with Silicon Valley Clean Energy.
- Schools: The Town’s page says students from the southern part of Town attend schools in the Los Altos School District (K through 8) and the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District (9 through 12), and those in the northern section attend Palo Alto Unified School District schools.
- Storm drains and creeks: A network of storm drains collects runoff from streets and roads and carries it to the creeks and San Francisco Bay, the Town’s 2007 Conservation Element says. Its Safety Element says the Town’s approach has traditionally been “to utilize natural drainage channels rather than to install pipe drainage systems”.
Useful links: Los Altos Hills County Fire District · Santa Clara County Fire Department · Town of Los Altos Hills: Winter Storm Preparedness · Town of Los Altos Hills: Notice to Residents (sandbags) · Town of Los Altos Hills: Building Department · Town of Los Altos Hills: Tree Removal Permit · Town of Los Altos Hills: Trees and Shrubs · Town of Los Altos Hills: Pathway System · Purissima Hills Water District · Valley Water · Silicon Valley Clean Energy · Santa Clara County FireSafe Council · Los Altos School District · Mountain View Los Altos High School District · Palo Alto Unified School District · Hidden Villa
The homes of Los Altos Hills
The median home in Los Altos Hills was built in 1977, and about 56 percent of its homes were built in 1979 or earlier, our own calculations from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 tables. About 98 percent are single-family houses that stand apart, and about 93 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
1959 and earlier
The older homes
About 15 percent of the homes were built in 1959 or earlier, and about 2 percent before 1940, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
1960 to 1979
The boom years
About 41 percent of the homes were built from 1960 to 1979, about 23 percent in the 1960s and about 18 percent in the 1970s, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
1980 to 1999
The middle years
About 28 percent of the homes were built from 1980 to 1999, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
2000 and later
The newest homes
About 16 percent of the homes were built in 2000 or later, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
Across the Town
Houses on their own lots
About 2 percent of the homes are single-family attached, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table, and the table shows no building of two or more units.
The Town’s account
A residential-agricultural lifestyle
The Town Facts page speaks of “the singular dedication to the preservation of a ‘residential-agricultural’ lifestyle”, shown in “vast open lands rolling hills, spectacular views of the South and East Bay communities, and a uniquely rural atmosphere”.
The Town’s 2008 plan
One-acre lots
The Town’s 2008 Land Use Element says the Town “consists mainly of low-density single-family residential development, with a minimum lot size of at least one acre.”
Historic listings
The Town’s inventory
The General Plan’s Appendix A, which is undated, lists 28 historic sites and structures that “have been determined to be historic resources in the Los Altos Hills Planning Area”, among them old homes, a one-room school, a barn and silo, and two roads.
Older roofs and gutters need a different hand: Gutter Repair · Roof Repair · Gutter Installation
The story of Los Altos Hills
History and character
The Town’s history page says: “Ohlone Indians were the 1st known residents of Los Altos Hills.”
The page says two large Spanish-Mexican land grants, Rancho La Purissima Concepcion and Rancho San Antonio, comprise Los Altos Hills, and that “Adobe Creek was the boundary line of the 2 ranchos.”
The page says the ranchos were eventually parceled and sold as smaller ranches for cattle grazing and vineyards, mostly of Zinfandel grapes. Italian and French vintners lived on Purissima Road until a blight destroyed the vineyards near the turn of the century, it says, and “Soon after, orchards of apricots, plums and prunes flourished.”
“Santa Clara Valley became the ‘Valley of Heart’s Delight’ and so it remained well into the 1960s,” the page says; the Town’s 2016 History Anthology captions a photo: “In the 1950s, most of Los Altos Hills looked like this – a blanket of apricot orchards draped over gently rolling hills, as far as the eyes could see.”
Before the Town was incorporated, the page says, “residential development was constrained by numerous factors, including lack of a dependable water supply. Water from wells and creek beds was safe, but not always adequate.”
The Town’s September 2026 newsletter says: “In 1955, the Foothills Incorporation Committee drafted a historic leaflet known as the Green Sheets because of the light green paper used.”
The Town’s Town History and About pages describe the reason for incorporating as the “preservation of the rural atmosphere of the foothills and orderly and unhurried growth.” The Town’s anthology quotes the Green Sheets as asking that the area “remain residential, quiet, and reasonably rural”.
The anthology says a rainy election night ended: “By a close vote of 424 yes to 339 no votes the Town of Los Altos Hills emerged as Santa Clara County’s 14th city.” The Town was incorporated in 1956.
The anthology says the original single-building Purissima school was built in 1901 for $1,051, and that “The Council rented the school for $75 a month as a temporary town hall.”
A resident’s essay in the anthology says it was “acclaimed writer and Stanford professor Wallace Stegner who dubbed the town ‘God’s Little Acre.'” The anthology is the only source we read for that.
The anthology says the founders “designed a system of roads with multiple cul-de-sacs to minimize the intrusion of cars, maintain privacy and conform to the hilly, wooded terrain”, and its timeline lists the first Master Path Plan in 1961. The Historical Society’s timeline says that year Foothill College “moves to new campus”.
The anthology’s timeline for 2007 to 2015 says: “As a result of the drought and disease, thousands of evergreen and oak trees died all around town”.
The Town Facts page says that in 2005 the Town Hall “moved into a state-of-the-art building”, designed to showcase the heritage oak tree.
The Town’s September 2026 newsletter marks the Town’s 70th anniversary in 2026, and says the Heritage House remodel’s ribbon-cutting on August 19, 2026 coincided with it.
Los Altos Hills, roof and gutters
Los Altos Hills calls itself “a residential community nestled in the scenic foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains”, the Town’s 2008 Land Use Element says. Its 2007 Open Space and Recreation Element names Monte Bello, Kaiser, Neary and Ewing Hill Ridges among the vistas to preserve, and its Conservation Element lists twelve named creeks, among them Adobe, Barron, Hale and Matadero.
The Town’s landscaping guide says the Town has “a Mediterranean climate”, with warm, dry summers, wet, cool winters and “a long dry period from May to October”. By our own calculation from NOAA’s 1991-2020 monthly normals at the three weather stations nearest Town Hall, November through April brings about 91 percent of the year’s rain.
The Town’s 2007 Conservation Element says the oak woodlands and chaparral “characterize the community”, and its trees page names the oak as the tree it protects. The Town’s landscaping guide (version 2.1, revised April 2021) lists 17 native trees, 8 deciduous and 9 evergreen, among them the valley oak, the coast live oak, the big-leaf maple and the California buckeye.
We have been working on Bay Area roofs and gutters since 2002. If yours hasn’t had a look in a while, we’d be glad to come by.
Landmarks and parks
Town Hall
The Town Facts page says the present building was designed to showcase the heritage oak tree.
Heritage House
A 1909 cottage from downtown Los Altos that was moved to the Hills in 1985, the Town’s newsletter says.
Westwind Community Barn
Owned and operated by the Town, its page says.
Griffin House
One of two official Town Historical Landmarks, the Town says; the Historical Society’s page calls it a brown-shingled house near the entrance of Foothill College.
Foothill College
The Foothill-DeAnza Community College District operates it, and its campus is located in Los Altos Hills, the Town’s page says.
Hidden Villa
An educational nonprofit on 1600 acres of open space in the foothills, by its own account.
How we can help in Los Altos Hills
Why Sunshine Gutters and Roofing
- Family-owned since 2002, trusted by thousands of returning Bay Area homeowners
- Licensed (CSLB #1053780), bonded, with $2 million in general liability coverage
- Our own crew, never subcontractors
- We keep track of local regulations, fire safety rules and insurance programs
- We show you what we found, with photos, so you decide what happens next
The year in Los Altos Hills
| April | Valley Water’s free sandbags end April 15, its page says |
|---|---|
| May | The dry months begin: the Town’s landscaping guide says the long dry period runs from May to October, and that watering begins when the rains cease, about May 1 on average |
| June | Valley Water’s rain barrel and cistern funding lasts until June 30, 2027, or until depleted, its page says |
| November | The Fire District’s chipping window runs Nov 9-20, 2026, its page says; registration for it ran Oct 5-26 The Fire District’s monthly drop-off at Foothill College is on Saturday, November 21, 2026, its page says Valley Water’s free sandbags are available from November 1, its page says The Town’s 2026 winter checklist asks owners to finish its steps by November 2026, and the waiver of the street tree permit fee ends November 30, 2026 The wet months begin: November through April brings about 91 percent of the year’s rain at the three nearest federal stations |
| December | The Fire District’s second chipping window runs Dec 7-18, 2026, and its drop-off is on Saturday, December 19, 2026 Wettest stretch at the three nearest federal stations: December through February holds about 59 percent of the year’s rain |
Los Altos Hills questions
What Los Altos Hills homeowners ask us
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Los Altos Hills?
Yes. Re-roofing is on the Town’s list of projects that need a permit, and the Town’s fee schedule has a re-roof line. If you wish, we can also pull the permit for you, as most of our customers ask us to.
What does it cost to remove a Heritage Oak in Los Altos Hills, and is it free for a dead oak?
The Town’s page says: “The fee to submit a Tree Removal Permit is $814.00 and payment is required in order to process the application.” For an oak “posing an immediate hazard and/or is dead and creating a fire hazard, the application fee will be waived and the permit can be issued over-the-counter.”
Who looks after the street tree in front of my Los Altos Hills home?
The Town’s Trees and Shrubs page says “property owners are responsible for the maintenance and care of trees, shrubs, and vegetation in the public right-of-way and public areas in front of and adjacent to their property. This includes any tree along the side of the road.” The Town’s code says it controls street trees, while the abutting owner “shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of such trees, shrubs and plants.”
Who looks after the drains, ditches and culverts on my Los Altos Hills property?
The Town’s winter storm page says: “Property owners are responsible for maintaining private stormwater drainage facilities on their property, including storm drain inlets, drainage ditches, swales, culverts, creeks, and driveway culverts adjacent to the roadway.” Its checklist adds: “Clear leaves, sediment, and debris from private storm drains, ditches, swales, and culverts.”
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We usually respond promptly within the day. Phone first for emergencies: (510) 525-0880.
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Los Altos Hills neighbourhoods we serve
Byrne Preserve
The Town’s page says it is “located along the upper length of Altamont Road and connected to numerous Town paths”.
Westwind Community Barn
Owned and operated by the Town, on 15 acres beside Byrne Preserve, its page says.
Juan Prado Mesa Preserve
The Town’s page says it is “accessible from Dawson Drive at one end and Stonebrook Road at the other and is bordered by Hale Creek and the Neary Quarry”.
Bicentennial Park
The Town’s page calls it a small park at Edith and Fremont Roads “along Adobe Creek”, with benches and “a meandering path through a wooded setting”.
Edith Park
One of the Town-owned parks and recreation facilities the General Plan lists, with Byrne Preserve and the Westwind Community Barn.
Purissima Playing Fields
The Town’s page says the area has “four maintained playing fields with public facilities operated through a joint agreement between the Town and the Los Altos Hills Little League Board of Directors”.
Also serving nearby: Palo Alto · Los Altos · Loyola