Tree removal in Chattanooga

What tree removal costs in Chattanooga

Other published Chattanooga figures are lower. Today's Homeowner puts the average at about $554, within a range of $213 to $876, and emergency removal at about $827. Homeyou lists $505 to $689 for one medium tree. None of these sources says how many jobs its numbers come from, or exactly what counts as a small or large tree.

Compare them side by side on our Chattanooga tree service cost page.

What changes the price

• The tree's size, mainly its height and the width of the trunk.
• What's close to it, such as your house, a fence or power lines. Trees that have to come down in pieces cost more.
• How easy it is to reach. A backyard tree that a truck or lift can't get to takes longer.
• What you want done afterward, such as grinding the stump or hauling the wood away.
• Urgency. Emergency work after a storm usually costs more than a planned job.

Do you need a permit?

Inside Chattanooga city limits, the city says its 2025 tree ordinance doesn't stop homeowners from removing trees on their own property. A tree on the public right-of-way or on a city-owned parcel is different: any work on it needs a Tree Ordinance Permit, which the city lists at $500.

Red Bank, East Ridge, Signal Mountain, the rest of Hamilton County and north Georgia have their own rules. A homeowners association or your deed may also have tree rules. Read the details in do you need a permit to remove a tree in Chattanooga?

Trees near power lines

If a tree or limb is touching a power line, stay away from it and call 911. EPB, Chattanooga's power company, says to assume a fallen line is live, and to call a professional to trim limbs near power lines. See who to call when a tree falls.

If a tree hit your house

Call your insurance company. The Insurance Information Institute says removal is generally covered, up to about $500 to $1,000, when a tree hits an insured building. When it misses your buildings, removal generally isn't covered. Take photos before anything is moved. If the tree came from next door, read who pays when a neighbor's tree falls.

What to ask before you hire

• Proof of insurance. Ask for a current certificate, not just a "yes, we're insured."
• A written price that lists what's included: taking the tree down, cleanup, hauling the wood, and the stump.
• Who handles a permit, if the tree is on public land or in a historic district.
• A license, for bigger jobs. Tennessee requires a home improvement license for some residential projects from $3,000 to under $25,000 in Hamilton County. If your quote is in that range, ask the company whether it applies to your job.
• When they'll do it, and what happens if the weather delays it.