Tree Removal in Florida

When a tree needs to come down, what it costs, whether you need a permit, and how to find a tree removal company in your town.

Last reviewed by TreeServicesNear.me. General information for Florida homeowners, not legal advice.

The short answer

  • Most single-tree removals in Florida cost about $500 to $2,500. Small trees start near $150; large trees over a house can pass $6,000.
  • Permits are local. Many towns require one for larger or protected trees. A documented dangerous tree on a single-family home lot is exempt under state law.
  • Florida does not license tree companies, so check insurance and registration yourself before anyone starts.
  • TreeServicesNear.me lists tree removal companies town by town. Jump to the list.

When a tree should come down

Removal is the last option, not the first. A healthy tree shades the house, holds soil and adds value, and many worrying-looking trees can be made safe by pruning or cabling. These are the signs that removal may be the right call:

  • The tree is dead or dying. No leaves in the growing season, bark falling away, brittle branches.
  • Decay at the base or in the trunk. Mushrooms or conks, cavities, soft or crumbling wood.
  • The roots are failing. A new lean, or soil cracking and lifting on one side.
  • A split trunk, or two trunks pulling apart at a tight V-shaped joint.
  • Storm damage that has taken most of the crown or broken major limbs.
  • The wrong tree in the wrong place. Roots under a foundation, or a weak-wooded species such as laurel oak or Australian pine close to the house.
A tree with five numbered warning signs: dead or hanging branches, two trunks in a tight V, a cavity in the trunk, mushrooms at the base, and soil lifting on one side.
Five warning signs you can spot from the ground. Any of them is a reason to have the tree looked at by an arborist.

If you are unsure, pay for an arborist's opinion before you pay for a removal. See arborist consultations.

What tree removal costs

Typical Florida prices for one tree with reasonable access, 2026. Ballpark figures, not quotes. Stump grinding not included.
Tree sizeHeightTypical price
SmallUnder 30 feet$150 – $600
Medium30 – 60 feet$500 – $1,200
Large60 – 80 feet$1,000 – $2,500
Very largeOver 80 feet$2,500 – $6,000+
Four trees of increasing height beside a house, with typical Florida removal prices from 150 to 600 dollars for a small tree up to 2,500 to 6,000 dollars or more for a very large one.
Typical Florida removal prices by tree height, 2026, with a two-storey house for scale. Ballpark figures, not quotes.

Oaks cost more than palms or pines of the same height. A tree over a roof, pool cage or power line costs more than the same tree in the open. Prices climb sharply after a hurricane. The Florida tree removal cost guide has the full breakdown.

Florida Tree Cost & Crew Estimator

Choose the tree type, height and how awkward the site is to get a ballpark price range, the crew and equipment the job is likely to need, and questions to ask before you agree to anything. It is an estimate only: the real price is the written quote.

Project Specifications

Provide the tree parameters to calculate the professional requirements.

Estimator Awaiting Spec

Set your project specs on the left, then click "Calculate Project Details" to generate your custom crew size, cost range and questions to ask.

Permits

Florida has no statewide tree removal permit. Each city and county sets its own rules, and many require a permit to remove trees above a certain trunk size or of a protected kind, most often large live oaks. Check before any cutting: fines for removing a protected tree can be heavy.

One state rule overrides local permits. Under section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes, the owner of a single-family home needs no local permit to remove a tree when an ISA Certified Arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect has documented, after an on-site assessment, that it poses an unacceptable risk. That means removal is the only practical way to bring the risk below moderate. It does not cover commercial property, condos, vacant lots or mangroves, and homeowners association rules still apply.

The Florida tree permit guide explains the exemption and links to the official tree page for each county and town we have found.

What happens on the day

  1. Set-up. The crew protects the lawn and anything fragile, and agrees where the wood will come down.
  2. Taking it down. In the open, a tree may be felled whole. Near buildings it is climbed or reached by bucket truck, and removed in sections lowered on ropes or lifted out by crane.
  3. Processing. Branches are chipped and the trunk cut into lengths. Hauling it away should be in your quote; leaving the wood can lower the price.
  4. The stump. Cut low and left, or ground out if you have agreed it. See stump grinding.
  5. Clean-up. Raking and blowing down. Walk the site with the crew leader before you pay.

Before you hire

TreeServicesNear.me is a directory. We list companies and their public details; we do not vet them. Four checks take a few minutes:

  1. Insurance. A certificate of general liability and workers' compensation, sent to you by the company's insurer.
  2. Registration. An active record on Sunbiz, Florida's business register, and a local business tax receipt.
  3. Reviews. Read the newest ones for damage, no-shows and price changes.
  4. A written quote. Which trees, whether the stump and hauling are included, and the total. Do not pay in full up front.

The detail, with the official lookup links, is in how to choose a tree service in Florida.

Tree Removal companies by town

These are the Florida towns where the most listed companies offer tree removal. Each link opens the list for that town, with phone numbers, websites and Google ratings.

Not listed? Search by town, county or ZIP code or browse every Florida county.

Common questions

How much does tree removal cost in Florida?

Most single-tree removals in Florida cost between about $500 and $2,500. Small trees under 30 feet are typically $150 to $600, and very large trees or trees over a house can pass $6,000. Height, what the tree could hit and access for equipment are the main factors. Stump grinding is usually a separate charge.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Florida?

It depends on your city or county and on the tree. Many Florida towns require a permit to remove larger or protected trees. On a single-family home lot, no local permit is needed if an ISA Certified Arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect has documented, after an on-site assessment, that the tree poses an unacceptable risk (section 163.045, Florida Statutes).

How do I know if a tree needs to be removed?

Common signs are a dead or mostly dead crown, mushrooms or cavities at the base or on the trunk, a new lean with soil lifting on one side, a split trunk, and large dead limbs over a house or driveway. Many of these can only be judged properly by an arborist on site, and some trees can be made safe by pruning or cabling instead.

How long does it take to remove a tree?

A small tree in the open takes an hour or two. A large tree over a house, which has to be taken down in sections and lowered by rope or crane, can take a full day or more. Clean-up and stump grinding add time.

Can I remove a tree myself?

A small tree well away from buildings, fences and power lines is within reach of a careful homeowner. Anything that needs climbing, a ladder and a chainsaw together, or that could reach a structure or a power line, should be left to an insured company. Tree felling is among the most dangerous jobs there is.

Is the stump included when a tree is removed?

Usually not. A removal quote normally ends with a low stump. Grinding it is a separate line, typically $100 to $300 for one stump. Ask for it to be written on the quote either way.

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We are a directory, not a broker. Find a Florida tree company and contact it directly. We do not vet the companies listed, so make your own checks before you hire.

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Services we cover:
Tree Removal | Tree Trimming | Stump Grinding | Emergency Service | Arborist Consultations