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Last reviewed 2026-10-19

Tree Removal Cost: Los Angeles County, CA

Across Los Angeles County the common jobs are tall palms and eucalyptus over roofs, Aleppo and Canary Island pines lifting driveways, and coast live oaks on hillside lots in the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriel foothills and the Santa Clarita Valley. HomeGuide's February 2026 national survey puts a typical removal at $400 to $1,200, a palm at $200 to $1,200 and an oak at $300 to $2,500.

Oaks dominate what woodland the county has. The Forest Service's 2024 FIA evaluation for California estimates about 189,000 acres of forest land in Los Angeles County, 52.7% western oak, 17.2% pinyon/juniper and 6.5% California mixed conifer, with another 10.0% nonstocked.

Building is steady at a big-county scale: the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 10,106 single-family buildings authorized countywide in 2025, after 9,106 in 2024.

Cost at a glance

Los Angeles County tree removal cost at a glance
ItemTypical costSource
Typical single tree$400-$1,200HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Palm$200-$1,200HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Oak (most common forest group here)$300-$2,500HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Tree 60-80 ft$850-$2,000HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Stump removal$100-$500+HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
LA County Oak Tree Permit, Type I (2025)$1,847LA County Planning

Permits

Oak trees are the big rule. In unincorporated Los Angeles County, the Oak Tree Permit ordinance (County Code Chapter 22.174) protects oaks with a trunk of 8 inches or more measured 4.5 feet above grade, or 6 inches in certain ecologically sensitive areas, and any work inside the protected zone (the dripline plus five feet, or 15 feet from the trunk, whichever is greater) needs a permit. Pruning branches and roots up to 2 inches across is exempt, and heritage oaks of 36 inches or more need a permit with a public hearing. LA County Planning put the 2025 cost of a ministerial (Type I) Oak Tree Permit at $1,847. Incorporated cities such as Los Angeles and Pasadena run their own tree ordinances.

Burning is out. South Coast AQMD Rule 444 prohibits residential open burning, including yard waste, across the basin, so debris is chipped or hauled.

Fire clearance is required. California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires owners in designated fire hazard areas to keep 100 feet of defensible space around structures, which is why so many hillside jobs are thinning and limbing rather than full removals.

Step 1: check whether you're in a city or unincorporated area, and whether the tree is an oak. Step 2: if it's a protected oak, start with LA County Planning before any cutting. Step 3: plan chipping or haul-off, since burning is banned. Step 4: compare itemized written bids that include cleanup. Step 5: call DigAlert (811) before stump grinding.

Local conditions

Steep, rocky hills: NRCS soil survey data for the West San Fernando Valley Area (CA676) find bedrock within about 39 inches (100 cm) on 39.1% of mapped acres and slopes of 15% or more on 36.2%, concentrated in the hills along the valley's west and north edges, where crews rig trees off slopes.

High desert: in the Antelope Valley Area survey (CA675), bedrock sits within about 39 inches on 22.9% of acres, and Joshua trees, junipers and windbreak trees dominate jobs north of the San Gabriels.

Fire and wind: FEMA's declarations data list 31 weather-related major disasters for Los Angeles County, including 12 fire declarations; the latest, declared January 8, 2025, covered the wildfires and straight-line winds. Santa Ana gusts break eucalyptus and pine limbs most winters.

Winter storms: FEMA counts 8 flood and 8 severe storm declarations, including the 2023 and 2024 winter storms that dropped saturated trees in the foothills and canyons.

What drives local prices

  • Species: HomeGuide's table lists palm at $200-$1,200, pine at $250-$1,600 and oak at $300-$2,500; tall eucalyptus behaves like a large hardwood.
  • Height: a 60-80 ft eucalyptus or pine is $850-$2,000 in HomeGuide's height table, and anything over 80 ft can pass $2,500.
  • Permits: a protected oak adds an Oak Tree Permit, which LA County Planning priced at $1,847 for a Type I permit in 2025, before any arborist report.
  • Access: hillside lots and tight city yards often need cranes or rigging; HomeGuide lists hourly rates of $100-$400+.
  • Stump: HomeGuide's survey puts stump removal at $100-$500+, more on rocky slopes.
  • Method: species, height, hourly and stump figures are HomeGuide national ranges (Feb 4, 2026); oak rules come from LA County Planning; burning from South Coast AQMD; defensible space from California PRC 4291. These are not quotes from local crews. Checked October 19, 2026.

Common jobs

  • Palm and eucalyptus removal
  • Pine removal near foundations and driveways
  • Oak work under an Oak Tree Permit
  • Defensible-space thinning on hillside lots

Service area

We hear from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Pasadena, Lancaster, Palmdale, Torrance, Pomona and Calabasas. I-5, I-405 and I-10 cross the basin, I-210 runs along the San Gabriel foothills, US 101 crosses the San Fernando Valley toward Ventura County, and Highway 14 climbs to the Antelope Valley.

The bordering county page on this site is Ventura County, which shares the Santa Monica Mountains, Simi Hills and Santa Clara River valley with LA.

Southern California Edison and LADWP own the lines; only their crews should handle limbs near wires. Want a price? Use the free form below with species, height and what's underneath. We reply by email with next steps and, where we know them, insured crews in your part of the county.

Communities: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Pasadena, Lancaster, Palmdale, Torrance, Pomona, Calabasas

When something can’t wait

If a Santa Ana wind or winter storm drops a tree on the house or a line, stay back and call SCE, LADWP or 911 before anyone cuts. HomeGuide's survey says emergency crews often charge 2 to 3 times standard rates; damaged protected oaks can qualify for emergency treatment, so call LA County Planning soon after.

Questions about Los Angeles County

How much does tree removal cost in Los Angeles County?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts a typical tree at $400 to $1,200. Tall eucalyptus, crane jobs and protected oaks cost more.

Do I need a permit to remove an oak?

In unincorporated areas, yes, if the trunk is 8 inches or more at 4.5 feet (6 inches in some sensitive areas). Cities have their own rules.

What does an Oak Tree Permit cost?

LA County Planning listed a Type I ministerial permit at $1,847 in 2025; permits needing a hearing cost more.

Can I burn tree trimmings?

No. South Coast AQMD Rule 444 prohibits residential burning, including yard waste.

How much clearance do I need around my house?

In designated fire hazard areas, California PRC 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space.

Sources

Bordering county

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.

Other counties we serve

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Ask about your clearing project

Tell us the acreage, what is growing on it and what the land is for: pasture, house pad, trails or a view. The form goes to Cornelia Cove LLC, which runs this site, and we reply by email. We use your details only to answer this request, and we pass them to a contractor only if you ask us to.

Bring a range from our estimator to every site visit. A clearing bid should price clearing, stumps, debris disposal and grading separately, and say who handles permits.