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Last reviewed 2026-10-19

Tree Removal Cost: Mono County, CA

Mono County tree work is mountain work: Jeffrey and lodgepole pines leaning over cabins in Mammoth Lakes and June Lake, red fir and pine crowding decks after heavy snow, and pinyon and juniper on lots around Crowley Lake, Swall Meadows and the Walker-Coleville area. Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 survey says $400 to $1,200 covers most single-tree jobs; high-country access pushes many Mono bids higher.

The Forest Service's 2024 FIA evaluation for California estimates about 744,700 acres of forest land in Mono County: pinyon/juniper 43.3%, other western softwoods 15.0%, lodgepole pine 14.1% and ponderosa pine group 11.3%.

Building is small-scale. The Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 41 single-family buildings authorized in Mono County in 2025, after 49 in 2024, so most bids are for existing cabins and homes.

Cost at a glance

Mono County tree removal cost at a glance
ItemTypical costSource
Typical single tree$400-$1,200HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Pine$250-$1,600HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Land clearing, per acre$1,200-$8,000HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
County landfill, wood$54 per ton or $26 per cubic yardMono County gate fees
County landfill minimum$8 per loadMono County gate fees

Permits

We found no County permit for cutting a tree on a private residential lot; Mammoth Lakes and HOAs may have their own rules, and land next to national forest needs care with property lines.

Burning follows the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District's residential rules. In restricted populated areas, which include Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Crowley Lake, Chalfant, Swall Meadows, Walker, Coleville and Topaz, you may burn only dry natural vegetation in ground piles with a valid permit from your local fire agency on a permissive burn day, and burn barrels are banned. In the allowable rural areas, such as Bridgeport, Lee Vining and Benton, burn barrels may also be used for dry vegetation with a permit. Burning trash is never allowed.

Disposal: Mono County's gate fees (effective July 11, 2025) list wood at $54 per ton or $26 per cubic yard, small household organics loads at $18, and an $8 minimum per load. Treated wood isn't accepted.

Fire clearance: California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in designated fire hazard areas, which covers most of the county's mountain communities.

Step 1: check your area's burn status and whether you need a fire agency permit. Step 2: pick chipping, the county landfill or a permitted pile burn. Step 3: check the fall zone for the cabin, decks and power lines. Step 4: compare itemized written bids. Step 5: call 811 before stump grinding.

Local conditions

Granite and talus: across the Benton-Owens Valley Area survey (CA802, spanning parts of Inyo and Mono counties), NRCS maps bedrock inside roughly 39 inches (100 cm) under 26.2% of acres and grades of 15% or steeper on 24.5%, most of it along the Sierra and White Mountain fronts, where stumps sit in rock.

Flood-prone valleys: NRCS data rate 10.5% of the survey area is subject to flooding, mainly near the Owens River and creeks draining the Sierra.

Snow load: FEMA's declarations data list 9 weather-related major disasters for Mono County, 5 floods and 4 severe storms, including the winter storms declared April 3, 2023; heavy snow loads break pine limbs and tops around Mammoth Lakes and June Lake.

Wildfire: pinyon, juniper and pine near homes are fuel, which is why defensible-space thinning is one of the most common jobs.

What drives local prices

  • Species: HomeGuide's table lists pine at $250-$1,600 and cedar/juniper types at $600-$2,000.
  • Height: a 60-80 ft Jeffrey pine over a cabin is $850-$2,000 in HomeGuide's height table.
  • Whole-lot thinning: fuel-reduction jobs around a June Lake cabin get bid like clearing, an acre band HomeGuide puts at $1,200-$8,000; it adds that bundling several trees usually trims 10% to 25%.
  • Disposal: the county charges $54 per ton or $26 per cubic yard for wood, so a few loads of trunks add real cost.
  • Access and season: snow, slopes and short work seasons raise labor; HomeGuide lists hourly rates of $100-$400+ and stump removal at $100-$500+.
  • Method: tree, height, acre, hour and stump dollars are HomeGuide's February 4, 2026 nationwide figures rather than Eastern Sierra quotes; burn areas are from the Great Basin Unified APCD table, landfill rates from the County's July 2025 gate fees. Checked October 19, 2026.

Common jobs

  • Pine removal over cabins and decks
  • Snow-damage cleanup
  • Defensible-space thinning
  • Pinyon and juniper clearing on lots

Service area

We hear from Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Crowley Lake, Bridgeport, Lee Vining, Walker, Coleville, Chalfant, Benton and Swall Meadows. US 395 runs the length of the county from Topaz to Toms Place, Highway 203 climbs into Mammoth Lakes, Highway 158 loops through June Lake, Highway 120 heads to Tioga Pass and Benton, and US 6 runs through Chalfant and Benton.

Southern California Edison serves most of the populated area; only utility crews should handle limbs near lines.

Want an estimate? Tell us about the tree in the form at the bottom: kind, size and what it's leaning toward. Replies come by email.

Communities: Mammoth Lakes, June Lake, Crowley Lake, Bridgeport, Lee Vining, Walker, Coleville, Chalfant, Benton, Swall Meadows

When something can’t wait

If snow or wind brings a tree onto the cabin or a line, stay back and call Southern California Edison or 911 before anyone cuts. HomeGuide's survey says emergency crews often charge 2 to 3 times standard rates; in deep snow, access alone can add hours.

Questions about Mono County

How much does tree removal cost in Mono County?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts a typical tree at $400 to $1,200. Tall pines over cabins and snow-season work cost more.

Can I burn pine needles and branches in Mammoth Lakes?

Only dry natural vegetation in ground piles, with a local fire agency permit, on a permissive burn day; burn barrels are banned there.

What does the landfill charge for wood?

Mono County lists wood at $54 per ton or $26 per cubic yard, with an $8 minimum per load.

How much clearance do I need around my cabin?

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

Why do so many trees fail here?

Heavy snow loads and wind on shallow, rocky soils; the April 2023 winter storm declaration is the latest of 9 weather-related FEMA declarations for the county.

Sources

More California 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.

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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.