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Last reviewed 2026-10-17

Tree Removal Cost in Lee County, FL

Palm removal in Lee County usually runs $200 to $1,200 a tree, HomeGuide's February 2026 national range for palms, while a broad-crowned oak or pine sits closer to HomeGuide's $400 to $1,200 typical range for one tree. Height, whether the tree hangs over a pool cage or roof, and whether you live on a barrier island all move the price.

Hurricanes shape tree work here more than anything else. FEMA's declarations data list 25 weather- or wildfire-related major disasters that included Lee County since 1965, 14 of them hurricanes and 16 declared since 2000, among them Hurricane Ian (DR-4673, September 29, 2022). Storm-leaning slash pines, split oaks and snapped palms are routine jobs from Bonita Springs to North Fort Myers.

The tree mix is coastal. The Forest Service's 2025 FIA inventory puts forest land in the county at about 168,000 acres, with longleaf/slash pine at 36.0%, tropical hardwoods at 25.6% and oak/pine at 12.2%. Mangroves along the bays and islands are a separate matter: Florida's hazard-tree statute does not cover them, and they fall under state mangrove rules.

Cost at a glance

Lee County tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Palm	$200-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Oak	$300-$2,500	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Typical insurance coverage when a tree hits a covered structure	$500-$1,000 per tree	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
County single-family clearing permit	$30 + $1 per tree (max $25 per acre); double after the fact	Lee County Community Development
Island lot with existing home	Up to 5 trees a year without a permit	Lee County LDC 14-377(c)

Permits

In unincorporated Lee County, the Land Development Code (Chapter 14) requires a vegetation removal permit to clear trees on single-family property of about 5 acres or more, over 2 acres on Greater Pine Island, and on the barrier and coastal islands, including Captiva, North Captiva, Gasparilla, Cayo Costa, Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach. On those islands, removing coconut palms and native trees needs a permit, but the county's guide says no permit is required to remove five trees or fewer a year from a single-family lot that already has a home on it (LDC 14-377(c)).

The county's application lists the single-family clearing fee at $30 plus $1 per tree, capped at $25 per acre, and doubles fees for after-the-fact permits. Hazard trees can be permitted for removal under LDC Section 14-412 when inspection finds a danger to buildings, traffic or utility service. Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero and Sanibel run their own codes, so check with your city first.

Florida Statutes s. 163.045 overrides much of this for dangerous trees: with written documentation from an ISA certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect that a tree on residential property poses an unacceptable risk, no local notice, permit, fee or mitigation can be required. Mangroves are excluded.

Step 1: confirm whether you are in a city, the unincorporated county or on an island, since each has different rules. Step 2: for a damaged or leaning tree, get the arborist's written risk assessment. Step 3: if a permit is needed, apply through the county's eConnect portal before cutting. Step 4: compare itemized bids that separate palms, hardwoods, stump grinding and haul-off. Step 5: call 811 before stump grinding near buried lines and irrigation.

Local conditions

Soggy ground: NRCS soil survey data show 74.6% of mapped acres in Lee County as poorly or very poorly drained and a water table within 30 cm on 59.9%, especially in the flatwoods around Lehigh Acres and inland toward Alva. Heavy trucks rut lawns in the wet season, so crews may use mats or smaller equipment.

Shallow rock and hydric soil: in the same NRCS survey, bedrock lies within 100 cm on 13.0% of mapped soil and 39.6% is hydric, which helps explain why pines and oaks on wet lots near the coast and canals blow over with their root plates.

Freeze and fire too: besides hurricanes, FEMA counts five freeze declarations and a wildfire declaration for the county, so dead or frost-killed tropical trees also show up on removal lists.

Palms everywhere: coconut, royal, queen and sabal palms line canals in Cape Coral and streets in Fort Myers. They are quick to fell but need careful lowering near pool cages, docks and lanais.

What drives local prices

Species: HomeGuide's published figures run $200-$1,200 for palms, $250-$1,600 for pines and $300-$2,500 for oaks per tree.
Height: per HomeGuide, under 30 ft is $200-$500 and 60-80 ft is $850-$2,000.
Permits: the county single-family clearing fee is $30 plus $1 per tree, capped at $25 per acre, doubled after the fact; island jobs also need a site inspection.
Insurance: HomeGuide says policies usually cover removal when a tree falls on a covered structure, often capped around $500-$1,000 per tree, so check your hurricane deductible.
Access: unbridged islands, pool cages and wet ground add an est. 15% to 35% to mainland pricing.
Method: national ranges are HomeGuide's published cost figures (Feb 4, 2026); permit fees are quoted from the county application; adjustments marked est. are ours, not Lee County bids. Figures checked October 16, 2026.

Common jobs

Palm removal near pool cages, docks and lanais
Hurricane cleanup of uprooted pines and split oaks
Permitted tree removal on barrier and coastal islands
Stump grinding in wet, shallow-rock lots

Service area

Quote requests come from Fort Myers and North Fort Myers along US 41 and I-75, from Cape Coral and Pine Island via SR 78, from Lehigh Acres on SR 82, from Estero and Bonita Springs to the south, and from Daniels Parkway, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach and Alva. Manatee County sits farther up the Gulf Coast along I-75, beyond Charlotte and Sarasota counties; it does not border Lee, but its page is the other southwest Florida county guide we keep, with its own permit fee and tree rules.

Much of the county is served by LCEC. It maintains vegetation around primary lines when trees touch them or threaten reliability, touches secondary and streetlight lines only when damage is imminent, and does not maintain the service drop to your house; only line-clearance qualified arborists should work near energized lines.

Tell us about the tree: the free quote form below takes a minute. Add species, height, what it overhangs and whether you are on an island. A member of our team replies by email with next steps and, where we know them, local insured crews to contact.

Communities: Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island, Alva

When something can’t wait

After a hurricane, assume every downed line is live and call LCEC, FPL or 911. Same-day and next-day removals cost 2 to 3 times normal rates, HomeGuide reports, and crews book up fast after named storms, so secure the property and document damage first.

Questions about Lee County

How much does tree removal cost in Lee County, FL?

Palms usually run $200 to $1,200 and typical shade trees $400 to $1,200 on HomeGuide's 2026 national data, with big oaks up to about $2,500. Island access, pool cages and storm damage push prices higher.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Lee County?

In unincorporated Lee County, single-family owners need one for clearing on lots of about 5 acres or more, over 2 acres on Greater Pine Island, and on the barrier islands. On those islands, owners of an existing home can remove up to five trees a year without one. Cities have their own rules.

Does LCEC trim trees near my house?

LCEC maintains primary lines and acts on secondary lines only when damage is imminent. It does not maintain your service drop, so hire a line-clearance qualified arborist for trees near it.

Does insurance pay for tree removal after a hurricane?

Usually only when the tree hits a covered structure; HomeGuide reports typical coverage of $500 to $1,000 per tree. Photograph the damage before cleanup.

Can I burn palm fronds and limbs?

The Florida Forest Service allows yard waste piles under 8 feet in diameter without an authorization if they are 25 feet from your house and 150 feet from other occupied buildings and burned between 9 a.m. and an hour before sunset. Many city and county rules are stricter, so check first.

Sources

Other Florida counties we cover

Tree problems

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