Tree Removal Cost: Lancaster County, NE

Lancaster County is Lincoln and the prairie around it, so nearly every tree job is a planted yard or street tree: ash, maple, elm, cottonwood, oak and evergreens in neighborhoods from Havelock to south Lincoln and in towns like Waverly and Hickman. HomeGuide's nationwide cost guide for 2026 puts most single trees in the $400-to-$1,200 range.

Native forest is thin. The Forest Service's FIA estimates (Nebraska 2025 evaluation) count only about 19,100 acres classed as forest land within the county, about half of it elm/ash/cottonwood along Salt Creek and its tributaries, with a wide margin of error from just 7 plots.

Growth around Lincoln keeps steady demand: the Census Bureau's county permit tallies show 970 one-family houses approved in 2025, 1,024 in 2024 and 799 in 2023.

Permits

Disposal fees are posted. The City of Lincoln's solid waste rate sheet, effective July 1, 2026, charges $25.15 per ton for yard waste and tree limbs at the North 48th Street Transfer Station, with a $25.15 minimum, plus a vehicle fee of $5.25 for a car and $18 for a cargo vehicle or trailer. Uncovered loads pay a 50% surcharge on the vehicle charge.

Street trees belong to the city. In Lincoln, trees in the public right-of-way between sidewalk and curb are managed by the city's forestry staff, so don't remove one without approval.

We found no county permit for cutting a tree on private land you own rural lot.

Step 1: see if the tree is a city street tree. Step 2: choose crew haul-off or a trip to North 48th Street. Step 3: walk the drop zone for the house, fence and lines. Step 4: compare written quotes. Step 5: book the free 811 line locate a few days before grinding.

Local conditions

Flood plains along Salt Creek: NRCS soil survey data for Lancaster County (NE109) rate 15.9% of mapped acres as occasionally or frequently flooded, most of it along Salt Creek through Lincoln and the creeks that feed it from the south and west, where cottonwoods and silver maples grow big and brittle.

Rolling loess hills: 32.6% of the county's mapped acres sit on 8%-plus grades per the NRCS data, but only 3.1% at 15% or more, so most yards are reachable by bucket truck.

Storm record: FEMA's declarations data list 13 major disaster declarations tied to weather in Lancaster County, 7 severe storms and 5 floods among them, with declarations in October 2024, May 2025 and October 2025 for straight-line winds and storms.

Ash loss: the emerald ash borer has reached Lincoln, and the city has been taking out public ash, so many private ash trees are dying and need careful felling.

Bur oaks along the bluffs near Salt Creek and Stevens Creek are among the few native trees, and the heavy clay soils near Lincoln stay soggy after spring rain, so roots lose their grip in wind.

What drives local prices

Ash is the common removal; HomeGuide's species list runs $650 to $2,000 for it.
A typical 30- to 60-foot yard tree is $500 to $1,500 in HomeGuide's height table.
Hauling yourself: the North 48th Street rate is $25.15 per ton for limbs plus the vehicle fee, per Lincoln's rate sheet.
Stump grinding adds $100 to $500 or more, HomeGuide says.
Where the numbers come from: HomeGuide's published national guide of Feb 4, 2026 and the City of Lincoln fee schedule. Checked October 20, 2026.

Common jobs

Removing dead and dying ash in Lincoln neighborhoods.
Storm cleanup after straight-line winds.
Taking down big cottonwoods and silver maples along creeks.
Windbreak and shelterbelt removal on acreages.

Service area

Calls come from Lincoln, Waverly, Hickman, Bennet, Firth, Malcolm, Raymond and Davey. I-80 crosses the north side of Lincoln, US 77 runs south toward Beatrice, and US 6 and US 34 cross the county.

Lincoln Electric System and Norris Public Power serve most areas.

Fill out the free form below; mention if the tree is ash, and if it overhangs the street.

Communities: Lincoln, Waverly, Hickman, Bennet, Firth, Malcolm, Raymond, Davey

When something can’t wait

For trees on lines, call LES or Norris Public Power and stay clear. Storm rates can run 2-3x normal per HomeGuide.

Questions about Lancaster County

What's a fair price to remove a tree in Lincoln and Lancaster County?

About $400-$1,200 for an average-size tree according to HomeGuide's 2026 guide; dead ash can run $650 to $2,000.

What does it cost to drop off limbs in Lincoln?

$25.15 per ton, $25.15 minimum, plus a vehicle fee, at the North 48th Street Transfer Station, per the city's 2026 rate sheet.

Can I remove the tree between my sidewalk and the street?

Not without the city's approval; street trees in Lincoln are city-managed.

Why do so many ash trees need removal here?

The borer is wiping out Lincoln's ash, and a dead ash turns brittle within a couple of years.

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.