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Last reviewed 2026-10-17

Tree Removal Cost: Harris County, TX

Live oaks, water oaks, pines and pecans make up most Harris County removal calls, and HomeGuide's February 2026 national survey prices an oak at $300 to $2,500 and a pine at $250 to $1,600; a run-of-the-mill tree costs $400 to $1,200. A small water oak in an open Katy back yard comes in low. A storm-cracked live oak over a Heights bungalow, with power lines and a neighbor's garage in the way, comes in high.

The county's woods are mixed: the Forest Service's 2025 FIA evaluation for East Texas counts about 160,900 forested acres in Harris County, with loblolly/shortleaf pine (24.1%), oak/pine (17.8%), oak/hickory (16.9%) and elm/ash/cottonwood bottomland (14.4%) all sharing the canopy. Most of the trees homeowners deal with grow in yards, not forest.

And the region keeps building: the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 16,940 single-family buildings authorized in Harris County in 2025 and 20,324 in 2023, and new construction on wooded lots usually starts with tree work.

Cost at a glance

Harris County tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Oak	$300-$2,500	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Tree 30-60 ft	$500-$1,500	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Chipping	$50-$100	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Houston heavy trash, contractor tree debris	Not collected	City of Houston
Houston tree permit (city property, ROW, setbacks)	Posted 20 days before work	Houston Permitting Center
Burn ban violation, unincorporated Harris County	Up to $500	Harris County Fire Marshal

Permits

Houston's tree permit is about city trees. The Houston Permitting Center says a Tree Removal/Tree Trimming Permit is required to remove any tree on city property, including rights-of-way, medians and parks, or on a setback; the permit must be posted 20 days before work, takes about 10 business days to process, and fees vary with tree size and location. Removing a protected tree starts with a written notice of intent to Urban Forestry. A tree fully on your own lot and away from the street generally needs no city permit, but check deed restrictions and HOA rules.

Debris is the catch inside Houston. The city's Solid Waste Management Department collects heavy trash, including tree limbs up to 8 inches in diameter and 10 feet long, every other month, with a limit of 8 cubic yards per set-out, but it does not collect material generated by contractors: debris from a hired tree removal must be hauled off by the crew. Confirm haul-off is in your bid.

Burning: the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office says the state outdoor burning rule prohibits outdoor burning anywhere in Texas outside narrow exceptions, and the HCFMO issues no burn permits. A burn ban took effect for unincorporated Harris County on September 17, 2026; violating it is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Step 1: check whether the tree is on your lot, in the right-of-way, or in a city setback. Step 2: make sure the bid includes haul-off, since Houston won't take contractor debris. Step 3: look for CenterPoint lines and call the utility if limbs touch them. Step 4: compare written bids that list felling, grinding and cleanup separately. Step 5: call Texas 811 before grinding.

Local conditions

Flat, wet clay: the NRCS soil survey for Harris County (TX201) rates 67.8% of mapped acres somewhat poorly to very poorly drained and shows a seasonal high water table within about 12 inches (30 cm) of the surface on 28.8%. Shallow-rooted trees in soggy gumbo topple in tropical storms, and wet yards keep heavy equipment off for days.

Storm record: FEMA's declarations data list 29 weather-related major disasters including Harris County from 1973 through 2024: 12 floods, 8 severe storms, 5 hurricanes and others, among them Hurricane Harvey (2017), the February 2021 winter storm, the May 2024 straight-line wind storms and Hurricane Beryl (July 2024).

Big crowns: live oaks spread wide and low over roofs, fences and streets, so many removals mean rigging limbs down piece by piece instead of felling.

Bayous and bottomland: elm, ash and cottonwood along Buffalo and Brays bayous and Cypress Creek grow fast and drop limbs, and creekside access is often by hand.

What drives local prices

Species: HomeGuide's table puts oak at $300-$2,500, pine at $250-$1,600 and palm at $200-$1,200; Houston yards have all three.
Size: HomeGuide lists $500-$1,500 for 30-60 ft trees and $850-$2,000 for 60-80 ft trees.
Haul-off: Houston's heavy trash program refuses contractor tree debris, so disposal is in every bid; HomeGuide's survey puts chipping at $50-$100.
Wet ground: soggy clay can rule out trucks in the yard; we add an est. 10% to 20% for hand carry or mats.
Storm timing: HomeGuide says same-day or next-day work often costs 2 to 3 times the standard rate, and hourly crews bill $100-$400+ per hour.
Method: per-tree, size, chipping and hourly figures are HomeGuide national ranges (Feb 4, 2026); permit and collection rules come from the Houston Permitting Center and the City of Houston; burn ban terms from the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office; est. marks our own allowance. Checked October 16, 2026.

Common jobs

Live oak and water oak removal over houses
Hurricane and derecho cleanup
Pine removal on wet suburban lots
Right-of-way tree work with a city permit

Service area

Calls come from Houston and its neighborhoods (the Heights, Memorial, Meyerland, Kingwood, Clear Lake), Pasadena, Baytown, Deer Park and La Porte on the east side, Katy, Cypress and Jersey Village to the west and northwest, Spring, Tomball, Humble and Atascocita to the north, and Bellaire and West University Place. I-10, I-45 and I-69/US 59 cross the county, with US 290, SH 288, SH 249 and SH 225 radiating out and the 610 Loop, Beltway 8 and the Grand Parkway (SH 99) ringing the city.

None of the counties next to Harris (Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Waller, Liberty, Chambers) has a page here yet. The Texas hub links our other Texas county pages.

Need a number for your tree? Use the free form below to send the species, rough height and what's beneath it. We reply by email with next steps and, where we know them, insured Houston-area crews.

Communities: Houston, Pasadena, Baytown, Katy, Cypress, Spring, Tomball, Humble, Kingwood, Atascocita, Bellaire, Deer Park, La Porte, Jersey Village

When something can’t wait

If a hurricane or thunderstorm drops a tree on the house or across lines, stay clear and call CenterPoint or 911 before anyone cuts. Emergency crews often bill 2 to 3 times standard rates on HomeGuide's survey, so photograph everything for your insurer and make sure the crew hauls the debris.

Questions about Harris County

How much does tree removal cost in Harris County, TX?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts an average tree at $400 to $1,200 and an oak at $300 to $2,500. Big live oaks over roofs, wet yards and haul-off push the price up.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Houston?

Only for trees on city property, such as the right-of-way, medians and parks, or on a setback; the Houston Permitting Center requires a Tree Removal/Tree Trimming Permit posted 20 days before work. Trees fully on your lot generally need none.

Will the city pick up the limbs after my tree is removed?

Not if a contractor cut it. Houston's heavy trash program says contractor-generated tree debris must be removed by the contractor.

Can I burn the brush?

Generally no. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office says the state rule bans outdoor burning outside narrow exceptions, and a county burn ban took effect September 17, 2026.

How often do storms hit?

Often. FEMA lists 29 weather-related major disasters for Harris County since 1973, including Harvey in 2017 and Beryl in 2024.

Sources

Nearby counties

Texas tree removal hub

Tree problems

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