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Last reviewed 2026-10-19

Tree Removal Cost: Jefferson County, CO

Jefferson County is two kinds of tree job. On the plains side, in Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Littleton, it's old Siberian elms, cottonwoods, silver maples and ash in established yards. Up the hill in Evergreen, Conifer and the canyon communities, it's ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir being thinned for wildfire defensible space. HomeGuide's February 2026 national survey puts a typical removal at $400 to $1,200 and a pine at $250 to $1,600.

The mountain half is real forest. The Forest Service's 2023 FIA evaluation for Colorado estimates about 289,700 acres of forest land in Jefferson County: ponderosa pine 32.3%, Douglas-fir 28.2%, aspen/birch 7.7% and 13.9% nonstocked, meaning forest land holding too few trees right now to count as stocked.

New building has slowed. The Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 810 single-family buildings authorized in Jefferson County in 2025, down from 932 in 2024 and 983 in 2023.

Cost at a glance

Jefferson County tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Pine (most common forest group here)	$250-$1,600	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Land clearing, per acre	$1,200-$8,000	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Stump removal	$100-$500+	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
SLASH site drop-off	$24 per six-cubic-yard load	Jefferson County
Open burning permit (6,400 ft or higher only)	$80	Jefferson County Public Health

Permits

We found no county permit for cutting a tree on a private residential lot; cities such as Lakewood and Arvada regulate street trees, and HOAs set their own rules.

Burning is limited by elevation. Jefferson County Public Health issues open burning permits only for agricultural and forest-management burns at 6,400 feet or higher; below that, tree debris counts as household rubbish and has to be hauled or chipped. Every application carries an $80 fee, takes 10 to 15 working days, and no permit is issued during a Stage 1 fire restriction or Stage 2 fire ban set by the Sheriff's Office. Most fire districts also allow burning only with snow on the ground.

Haul-off is cheap through the county's SLASH program. Jefferson County Slash Collection sites charge $24 per load, a load being six cubic yards (162 cubic feet), roughly a pickup bed full to cab height; payment is by credit card only. The 2026 season opened May 15, the Tincup Ridge yard has free mulch for residents, and stumps aren't accepted anywhere in the program.

Step 1: check your elevation and whether a fire restriction is in effect. Step 2: pick chipping, a SLASH site or, above 6,400 feet with snow cover, a permitted pile burn. Step 3: check the fall zone for the house, decks and Xcel Energy or CORE Electric lines. Step 4: compare itemized written bids. Step 5: call Colorado 811 before stump grinding.

Local conditions

Rocky slopes west of the plains: NRCS soil survey data for the Golden Area (CO641), which covers the Jefferson County foothills plus parts of Denver, Douglas and Park counties, put 57.6% of mapped acres at 15% slope or more and find bedrock within about 39 inches (100 cm) on 66.1%, so trees west of the hogback often grow straight out of rock and need rope work.

Wildfire fuel: ponderosa and Douglas-fir stands along the mountain corridor west of Morrison and Golden are the reason defensible-space thinning is such a common job; FEMA's declarations data list the wildfires of June 2002 among Jefferson County's 5 weather-related major disasters.

Floods: FEMA lists the other 4 declarations as floods, including the September 2013 floods and the August 2023 storms, flooding and tornadoes; flood damage to trees concentrates along creek corridors such as Clear Creek and Bear Creek.

Wind and snow: downslope gusts and heavy spring snow break brittle Siberian elms and silver maples on the plains side most years.

What drives local prices

Species: HomeGuide's table lists pine at $250-$1,600, ash at $650-$2,000 and maple at $600-$1,200.
Height: a 30-60 ft ponderosa is $500-$1,500 in HomeGuide's height table, and a 60-80 ft cottonwood is $850-$2,000.
Volume: thinning a mountain lot is priced closer to land clearing, which HomeGuide puts at $1,200-$8,000 per acre, with multi-tree discounts of 10% to 25%.
Disposal: at $24 per six-yard load, county SLASH sites keep haul-off cheap in season, but stumps are refused.
Slope and rock: steep, rocky lots mean rigging and hand work; HomeGuide lists hourly rates of $100-$400+ and stump removal at $100-$500+.
Method: species, height, acreage, hourly and stump figures are HomeGuide national ranges (Feb 4, 2026); burn and disposal rules come from Jefferson County Public Health and the Jefferson County SLASH program. These are not quotes from local crews. Checked October 19, 2026.

Common jobs

Ponderosa and Douglas-fir thinning for defensible space
Old elm, cottonwood and ash removal on the plains side
Snow and wind damage cleanup
Slash haul-off to county SLASH sites

Service area

We hear from Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Littleton, Evergreen, Conifer, Morrison and Kittredge. I-70 climbs west from Wheat Ridge and Golden into the mountains, US 6 runs through Clear Creek Canyon, US 285 heads southwest through Conifer, and Highway 93 links Golden to Boulder.

Xcel Energy serves most of the plains side and CORE Electric Cooperative much of the mountain area; only utility crews should handle limbs on their lines.

Need a quote? Use the free form below with the species, rough height and what's underneath. We reply by email with next steps and, where we know them, insured Front Range crews.

Communities: Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Littleton, Evergreen, Conifer, Morrison, Kittredge

When something can’t wait

If snow or wind brings a tree onto the house or a line, keep away and call Xcel Energy, CORE Electric or 911 before anyone cuts. HomeGuide's survey says emergency crews often charge 2 to 3 times standard rates.

Questions about Jefferson County

How much does tree removal cost in Jefferson County, CO?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts a typical tree at $400 to $1,200. Steep mountain lots and big plains cottonwoods cost more.

Can I burn slash in Jefferson County?

Only at 6,400 feet or higher, with an $80 Jefferson County Public Health permit, and never during a fire restriction or ban.

What does a SLASH site charge?

$24 per six-cubic-yard load, by credit card only. The 2026 season started May 15.

Will SLASH sites take stumps?

No. Stumps, lumber and loose leaves are refused because they can carry rocks or metal.

Why is tree thinning so common in the foothills?

Wildfire. Ponderosa and Douglas-fir make up most of the county's forest, and thinning creates defensible space around homes.

Sources

More Colorado tree removal pages

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.