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Last reviewed 2026-10-19

Tree Removal Cost: Erie County, NY

In Erie County, snow decides a lot of the tree work. Lake-effect storms off Lake Erie load maples, ash and spruce in the Southtowns, and a heavy early snow on leafed-out trees can break limbs across Buffalo and the suburbs in one night. HomeGuide's 2026 national survey puts a typical removal at $400 to $1,200.

Maples rule the woodlots. The Forest Service's 2025 FIA evaluation for New York estimates about 188,700 acres of forest land in the county: maple/beech/birch 41.1%, oak/hickory 23.5% and elm/ash/cottonwood 19.2%.

Homebuilding is picking up: the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 666 single-family buildings authorized in Erie County in 2025, up from 584 in 2024 and 551 in 2023, much of it in Clarence, Amherst, Lancaster and Orchard Park.

Cost at a glance

Erie County tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Maple	$600-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Ash	$650-$2,000	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Tree 60-80 ft	$850-$2,000	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Brush burning (towns under 20,000 only)	Banned March 16-May 14	NYSDEC
Brush size allowed for burning	Under 6 in diameter and 8 ft long	NYSDEC

Permits

New York's open burning rule is strict. NYSDEC says brush (downed limbs under 6 inches in diameter and 8 feet long) can be burned on site only in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents, never in a village, and that brush burning is banned statewide from March 16 through May 14. That rules out burning in Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda and the other large towns, so plan for chipping or haul-off.

Cutting a tree on your own lot generally needs no County permit. The City of Buffalo and many towns and villages control street trees in the right-of-way, so ask before touching one.

Smaller southern towns (Boston, Colden, Concord, Sardinia and others) may allow brush burning outside the spring ban; check town rules too, since they can be stricter than the state's.

Since burning is limited, expect haul-off inside HomeGuide's $400-$1,200 typical range or on top of it. Step 1: figure out whether the tree is yours or the town's. Step 2: for ash, check whether emerald ash borer has already killed it, which makes climbing riskier. Step 3: plan chipping. Step 4: get written bids. Step 5: call Dig Safely New York 811 before grinding.

Local conditions

Wet, heavy soils: NRCS soil survey data for Erie County (NY029) rate 53.4% of mapped acres poorly or somewhat poorly drained and put a water table within about a foot (30 cm) on 27.7%, worst on the lake plain north and east of Buffalo, where shallow-rooted maples and willows tip over in wet springs.

Rock and slopes south of the Thruway: NRCS maps bedrock within about 39 inches under 9.9% of acres, mostly in the hills along the Cattaraugus Creek valley, and slopes along Eighteenmile Creek make felling harder.

Snow and wind: FEMA's declarations data list 13 weather-related major disasters for the county, including 6 severe storms, 5 snowstorms and an ice storm; the latest, declared March 2023, covered a severe winter storm and snowstorm.

Gusts off Lake Erie hit trees along the waterfront and in Hamburg and Evans hardest, and clay soils near Tonawanda Creek let maples tip after long rains.

What drives local prices

Species: HomeGuide's species list prices maple at $600-$1,200, ash at $650-$2,000 and oak at $300-$2,500.
Dead ash: brittle ash killed by emerald ash borer often needs a lift instead of climbing, at HomeGuide's $100-$400+ hourly crew rate.
Disposal: with burning off in most towns per NYSDEC, chipping and haul-off are in nearly every bid.
Height: old silver maples and spruces reach 60-80 ft, a size HomeGuide puts at $850-$2,000.
Stump: HomeGuide's survey says stump removal costs $100-$500+.
Method: species, hourly, height and stump figures are HomeGuide's February 4, 2026 nationwide ranges, not Western New York quotes; burning rules from NYSDEC. Checked October 19, 2026.

Common jobs

Snow and storm damage cleanup
Dead ash removal
Maple and spruce removal near houses
Stump grinding

Service area

We hear from Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, West Seneca, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Lancaster, Clarence and East Aurora. The Thruway (I-90) loops east and south of Buffalo, I-190 runs along the Niagara River, I-290 crosses Amherst and Tonawanda, Route 400 heads to East Aurora and US 20 runs through the Southtowns.

National Grid and NYSEG serve the county; their crews handle trees on lines.

Tell us the species, height and what's under it in the free form below; we'll reply by email.

Communities: Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, West Seneca, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Lancaster, Clarence, East Aurora

When something can’t wait

After a lake-effect storm, treat any limb on a wire as live and call National Grid, NYSEG or 911. HomeGuide says storm crews often charge 2 to 3 times standard rates.

Questions about Erie County

How much does tree removal cost in Erie County, NY?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts a typical tree at $400 to $1,200; storm work and dead ash cost more.

Can I burn brush?

Only in towns under 20,000 people, outside villages, and never from March 16 to May 14, per NYSDEC.

What size brush can be burned?

Limbs under 6 inches in diameter and 8 feet long, where burning is allowed.

Do I need a permit?

Not from the County for a tree on your lot; street trees belong to the city, town or village.

What storms hit the county?

Snowstorms and severe storms; FEMA lists 13 weather-related major disasters.

Sources

Tree problems

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.