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Last reviewed 2026-10-17

Alabama Tree Removal Cost and Rules

Alabama homeowners can use HomeGuide's February 2026 national survey as a starting point: about $400 to $1,200 for a typical tree, and $300 to $2,500 when it's an oak. Prices climb with height, with steep or rocky ground in the north Alabama hills, and with how a crew has to get rid of the brush, which depends on whether you live inside a city like Huntsville or out in the county.

Alabama is heavily wooded: the 2025 FIA evaluation by the Forest Service estimates about 23.0 million forested acres, split 41.6% loblolly/shortleaf pine, 29.1% oak/hickory, 11.2% oak/pine and 9.1% oak/gum/cypress. In the Tennessee Valley and on the plateaus, hardwoods lead; across central and south Alabama, pine does.

This hub collects statewide burning and licensing rules and links the Alabama county pages on the site, which cover local disposal, utilities, soils and storm history.

Cost at a glance

Alabama tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Oak	$300-$2,500	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Pine	$250-$1,600	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Chipping	$50-$100	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
AFC burn permit (over 1/4 acre or within 25 ft of woods)	Free	Alabama Forestry Commission
Huntsville open burning permit	$250.00	City of Huntsville Air Pollution Control Rules (2025)
Scottsboro brush, a knuckle-boom load or more	$150 per load	City of Scottsboro, Ordinance No. 525

Permits

Cutting a tree on your own land needs no state permit. Burning the debris can. Under Code of Alabama Title 9, Chapter 13, setting fire to woodland, a field or newly cleared ground larger than a quarter acre, or any fire within 25 feet of woods or grass, first needs a permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC). There is no charge for the AFC permit, but the AFC says skipping it can cost up to $1,000 in fines and/or as much as six months in jail.

Cities add their own rules. Huntsville's Air Pollution Control Rules and Regulations require a city Open Burning Permit, at $250.00 per permit, for any open burning inside city limits, issue none while ADEM or the AFC has a ban in place, and prohibit burning trees or limbs cut by a commercial tree service. In Scottsboro, brush at the curb goes out on free weekly routes, but Ordinance No. 525 bills a knuckle-boom load or more at $150 per load.

Licensing: Alabama's Professional Services law (Code of Ala. §2-28-1) covers tree surgery such as cavity work, bracing and cabling, not plain felling; firms selling that work need the Horticulture Professional Services License from the Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), listed at $175 a year. For removal, ask any crew for a certificate of liability insurance.

Step 1: open your county page below for local disposal and utility rules. Step 2: decide on chipping, haul-off or a permitted burn, and check for a city burn permit or an AFC ban. Step 3: call your electric utility if limbs reach a line. Step 4: compare itemized bids for felling, grinding and cleanup. Step 5: call Alabama 811 before any stump grinding.

Local conditions

Storms: FEMA's declarations data list 73 weather-related major disasters for Alabama from 1961 through 2023, 44 of them severe storm events and 16 hurricanes, with 39 declared since 2000; the April 2011 tornado outbreak alone brought declarations for both Jackson (DR-1971) and Madison counties.

Terrain north of Birmingham: NRCS soil survey data put 44.3% of mapped acres in Jackson County on slopes of 15% or more, against 19.2% in Madison County, and bedrock within about 100 cm on 49.2% and 18.7% respectively, so plateau and ridge lots near the Tennessee River need far more rigging than valley yards.

Hardwood versus pine: oak/hickory covers 47.4% of Madison County's forest in the FIA tables, while loblolly/shortleaf pine leads statewide, so the same price guide covers very different wood weights across the state.

Spring is tornado season in north Alabama, and crews book up for weeks after a large outbreak.

What drives local prices

By size, HomeGuide's survey climbs from $200-$500 for trees shorter than 30 ft to $500-$1,500 at 30-60 ft, $850-$2,000 at 60-80 ft, and $1,200-$2,500+ for the giants past 80 ft.
Pine or hardwood: per-tree, HomeGuide shows pine at $250-$1,600 and oak at $300-$2,500, and Alabama has huge amounts of both.
Disposal: inside Huntsville a crew's brush is chipped or hauled; Scottsboro bills $150 for each knuckle-boom load, and HomeGuide's survey puts chipping at $50-$100.
Slope and rock: plateau and ridge lots add an est. 15% to 30% for climbing and hand carry.
Method: tree, size and chipping prices are HomeGuide's nationwide figures from Feb 4, 2026; the burn permit and brush fees come straight from the AFC, Huntsville and Scottsboro documents; est. marks our own terrain allowance. These are not quotes from Alabama crews. Reviewed October 16, 2026.

Common jobs

Oak and hickory removal on north Alabama ridge lots
Tornado and severe storm cleanup
Pine removal across central and south Alabama
Brush disposal under AFC and city burn rules

Service area

County pages on the site: Jackson (Scottsboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport, Section) and Madison (Huntsville, Madison, Harvest, Hazel Green), joined along US 72 and with I-565 into Huntsville.

If your county is not listed yet, the AFC permit rules still apply; ask your city Fire department or Planning office about local burning and debris pickup, and the AFC office about burn bans.

Want a price for an Alabama tree? The free form below needs only the kind of tree, a guess at its height and what lies beneath it. We reply by email with the next steps and, where we have them, insured Alabama crews to call.

Communities: Huntsville, Madison, Harvest, Hazel Green, Scottsboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport, Section

When something can’t wait

When a tornado or thunderstorm puts a trunk across wires or through a roof, get people out of the way and call the power company or 911 before any cutting. Emergency crews bill 2 to 3 times the normal rate in HomeGuide's survey, so get photos and call your insurer early.

Questions about Alabama

How much does tree removal cost in Alabama?

Statewide, HomeGuide's 2026 figures suggest roughly $400 to $1,200 for an everyday tree, with pines from $250 to $1,600 and oaks from $300 up to $2,500. Steep lots, trees leaning over roofs and hauling the wood away raise the bill.

Do I need a permit to burn brush in Alabama?

A free AFC permit is required once a fire passes a quarter acre or sits within 25 feet of woods or grass. Cities can be stricter; Huntsville charges $250.00 per open burning permit.

Does a tree removal company need a state license?

Not for felling. Alabama licenses tree surgery such as cabling, bracing and cavity work through ADAI; for removal, ask for proof of liability insurance.

Can a tree service burn my brush inside Huntsville?

No. Huntsville's rules prohibit burning trees or limbs cut as a commercial service, so the crew chips or hauls it.

When is storm season?

Spring brings most tornadoes to north Alabama, and the Gulf coast sees hurricanes from summer into fall. FEMA lists 16 hurricane declarations for the state.

Sources

County pages in Alabama

Tree problems

Local fees and rules change. Confirm with the county or state office named above before you clear. Estimate your clearing cost.