Common Questions
Plain answers on cost, city rules, brush, insurance and storms.
HomeGuide's 2026 figures put the average removal near $850, with most jobs between $400 and $1,200; Forbes Home put its national average at $1,200 in 2024. Height matters most, then what sits under the tree and how the crew reaches it. A tall water oak over a brick ranch, or a pine on a Monte Sano slope, lands at the top of those ranges. The local tree crew's written estimate sets your actual price.
Usually not for a tree on your own lot: published summaries of the city code describe private-tree rules as less restrictive. A tree on city land, in the right-of-way or in a utility easement is different, and removing it goes through the City Arborist's office. In Twickenham, Old Town or Five Points, check with the Historic Preservation Office before any cut. Our tree rules guide covers the details.
Not if a paid crew cut it. The City's curbside rules say it will not pick up debris resulting from a contractor's work. Limbs you trim yourself are a different story: under 5 feet long, up to 10 cubic yards at no charge, set out by 7 a.m. and never next to poles or lines. That is why hauling belongs in the crew's written scope.
Policies often help when a tree falls on a covered structure, such as the house or a detached garage. A dead or leaning tree that hasn't fallen is usually the owner's cost. Read your own policy and ask your agent. We don't file or handle claims, and any offer to cover your deductible is a red flag.
Keep people and pets away from it. If the tree is on or touching a power line, stay back and contact Huntsville Utilities or your power company before anything else. Take photos from a safe spot, then send us a request with what you see. Get the scope and price in writing, and don't pay in full up front, as the Alabama Attorney General advises after storms.
Most people do. HomeGuide's 2026 range for a first stump is $120 to $400, with $30 to $60 for each extra one. For a Bradford pear, Alabama Extension advises removal followed by stump grinding, because the lateral roots keep sprouting. For a pine killed by bark beetles, Extension says to remove it promptly and grind the stump.
All of Huntsville, plus Madison, Harvest, Hazel Green, Meridianville, Owens Cross Roads and Gurley, and the Madison County roads between them. Madison, AL runs into Limestone County, and those addresses are covered too. Not sure about yours? Type your ZIP into the area checker at the bottom of this page.
We take your request, ask the questions that shape the job and set up the visit. A local tree crew looks at the tree, explains the plan and gives you a written price, and you decide from there. Before work starts, ask the crew for its City of Huntsville business license and proof of liability and workers' comp insurance.
Not sure how serious your tree is? Try the Tree Diagnosis tool.
Send your question with the estimate form, or ask it through the contact page.
Enter a town or a ZIP such as 35801 to see if it is covered.