Tree Removal Cost: Carroll County, NH

Carroll County runs from Lake Winnipesaukee's east shore up through Conway and North Conway into the White Mountains, and most of it is forest. Jobs are big white pines and hemlocks over camps and homes, storm-damaged maples and lakefront trees. A typical single removal is $400 to $1,200 in HomeGuide's cost guide, updated February 2026,.

The Forest Service's FIA estimates (New Hampshire 2025 evaluation) count about 545,400 acres of county forest land: 60.2% maple/beech/birch, 11.5% oak/hickory, 9.2% oak/pine and 9.1% white/red/jack pine.

Census Bureau building permit data show 345 single-unit homes given permits in Carroll County in 2025, 351 in 2024 and 371 in 2023, many on wooded lots around the lakes and in the valley.

Permits

Burning brush needs a written permit. The NH Division of Forests and Lands says a written fire permit from the local forest fire warden or fire department is required for any outdoor burning when the ground isn't covered in snow, and the Division limits what you burn to brush and untreated wood under 5 inches in diameter. Violations can carry fines as high as $1,000, per the Division.

Lakefront lots: work within the protected shoreland next to lakes such as Ossipee, Winnipesaukee and Silver Lake falls under the state Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act, which limits tree removal near the water. Check with NHDES before cutting there.

Disposal: town transfer stations such as Conway's take brush and limbs for chipping; ask your town about size limits and fees.

Step 1: check whether the lot is in the protected shoreland. Step 2: choose a permitted burn, the transfer station or chipping. Step 3: walk the fall zone for camps, docks and lines. Step 4: compare written quotes. Step 5: have buried lines marked through 811 before the stump grinder arrives.

Local conditions

Mountains and ledge: the White Mountain hills around Conway, Bartlett and Jackson mean steep lots, thin soils over granite and long rope pulls; many yards in the north of the county have ledge just below the lawn.

Tall pines on sandy outwash: big white pines grow on the sandy plains along the Saco River near Conway and Fryeburg and in the Ossipee pine barrens, and they shed limbs or snap in wet snow.

Storm record: FEMA's declarations data list 24 weather disaster declarations covering Carroll County, 12 of them severe storms and 6 floods, with declarations in February and July 2024 and October 2026.

Ice: heavy ice on maple and birch crowns brings down limbs across the lakes region every few winters.

Hemlocks along the Swift River and the brooks near Tamworth are showing hemlock woolly adelgid damage, and declining hemlocks near camps are a growing share of removals.

What drives local prices

Big white pines often pass 80 feet, HomeGuide's $1,200-to-$2,500-plus band; a pine generally runs $250 to $1,600 by its species table.
Maples cost $600 to $1,200 each in HomeGuide's guide.
Steep, ledgy or water-access lots: our est. add-on is \1% to 50%.
Stump grinding on ledge can top HomeGuide's $100 to $500 range.
How we priced it: the dollar ranges are quoted from HomeGuide's published national cost guide dated Feb 4, 2026; lines marked est. are our estimate. Checked October 20, 2026.

Common jobs

Removing big white pines and hemlocks over camps and homes.
Storm cleanup after nor'easters and summer storms.
Lakefront tree work within shoreland limits.
Lot clearing for new homes and additions.
Cutting and splitting downed hardwood into stove lengths for owners who heat with wood.
Opening up views on hillside lots in Jackson and Bartlett, where shoreland or town rules allow it.

Service area

Calls come from Conway, North Conway, Wolfeboro, Ossipee, Tamworth, Moultonborough, Bartlett, Jackson, Freedom and Effingham. Route 16 runs north through Ossipee and Conway, US 302 heads west through Bartlett, and Route 28 and Route 25 serve Wolfeboro and Moultonborough.

Eversource and the New Hampshire Electric Co-op serve the county.

Describe the tree in the free form below, including whether it's near a lake or camp.

Communities: Conway, North Conway, Wolfeboro, Ossipee, Tamworth, Moultonborough, Bartlett, Jackson, Freedom, Effingham

When something can’t wait

Downed lines are Eversource's or the Co-op's job; stay back. Storm rates can run 2-3x normal per HomeGuide.

Questions about Carroll County

What's the going rate for tree removal in Carroll County, NH?

Most single trees run $400 to $1,200 in HomeGuide's 2026 figures; big pines over buildings cost more.

Is a permit required to burn brush?

Yes, a written fire permit from your town's forest fire warden whenever the ground isn't snow-covered.

Can I cut trees on my lakefront?

The state shoreland law limits tree removal near the water. Check with NHDES before cutting.

What happens if I burn without a permit?

The Division of Forests and Lands says fines can reach $1,000.

Sources

Related tree removal guides

Local fees and rules change. Confirm with the county or state office named above before you clear. For published price ranges, see land clearing cost per acre or follow the worked estimate. Estimate your clearing cost.