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Last reviewed 2026-10-17

North Carolina Tree Removal Costs

For a North Carolina tree, HomeGuide's February 2026 national survey is a fair first number: $400 to $1,200 for a typical removal, $250 to $1,600 for a pine and $300 to $2,500 for an oak. What moves a bid from one end to the other is height, what the tree would land on, wet coastal ground or steep Piedmont slopes, and whether the brush can be burned, picked up by the city or has to be hauled.

Woods cover a large share of the state. The Forest Service's 2024 FIA evaluation counts roughly 18.5 million forested acres in North Carolina: oak/hickory 37.7%, loblolly/shortleaf pine 33.0%, oak/pine 10.6% and oak/gum/cypress swamp hardwoods 9.3%. Pines dominate the coastal plain and the Sandhills; hardwoods dominate the Piedmont and mountains.

This hub gathers statewide burning rules and links every North Carolina county page on the site; each county page covers local disposal fees, town tree rules, soils and storm history.

Cost at a glance

North Carolina tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Pine	$250-$1,600	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Oak	$300-$2,500	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Chipping	$50-$100	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Open burning violations	Fines up to $25,000	NC DEQ
Brunswick County yard debris	$22.50 per ton	Brunswick County tipping fees
Winston-Salem yard waste sites	$37 per ton	WS/FC Utilities FY27 rates

Permits

No state permit is needed to cut a tree on your own land. Burning the debris is regulated. Under the state open burning rule (15A NCAC 2D .1900), NC DEQ's Division of Air Quality allows residential burning only of vegetation grown on the property, only where public pickup of that material is not available, and only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on days that aren't forecast Code Orange or worse. Land-clearing burns must sit at least 500 feet from occupied dwellings on other property, and DEQ says violations can bring fines of up to $25,000.

The Division of Air Quality issues no burn permits; the N.C. Forest Service does, through its online burn permit system or a county office. Counties and cities add rules on top: Forsyth County runs its own air program and bans yard-waste burning wherever pickup exists, and Brunswick County, a state-designated high-hazard county, requires a special permit for land-clearing burns over 5 acres.

Trees themselves are a local matter. Most counties have no permit for a tree on a private lot, but towns can: Oak Island requires a tree removal application, and county development rules often protect buffer trees during construction. Check with your town Planning office before cutting a large tree near a street or in a new subdivision.

Step 1: open your county page below for local rules and disposal. Step 2: find out whether your address gets yard waste pickup, which decides whether burning is even legal. Step 3: call the electric utility if limbs touch lines. Step 4: compare itemized written bids for felling, grinding and cleanup. Step 5: call NC 811 before stump grinding.

Local conditions

Hurricanes and ice: FEMA's declarations data list 56 weather-related major disasters for North Carolina from 1954 through 2025, 23 of them hurricanes and 28 declared since 2000. The coast takes most hurricanes; the Piedmont gets ice storms and the remnants of tropical systems.

Coastal plain versus Piedmont: NRCS soil survey data put 59.8% of mapped acres in Brunswick County in poorly drained classes, while 63.2% of Forsyth County's mapped acres sit at 8% slope or more, so the same tree costs different amounts to reach on the coast and in the Triad.

Growth: the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 4,454 single-family buildings authorized in Brunswick County in 2025, and new subdivisions across the state start with tree work.

Pine and hardwood weight differ: loblolly pine leads the coastal counties, while FIA data show oak/hickory covering 57.4% of Forsyth County's forest.

What drives local prices

Size: HomeGuide's survey climbs from $200-$500 under 30 ft to $500-$1,500 at 30-60 ft, $850-$2,000 at 60-80 ft and $1,200-$2,500+ past 80 ft.
Species: HomeGuide shows pine at $250-$1,600, oak at $300-$2,500 and maple at $600-$1,200.
Disposal: Brunswick County's tipping fee schedule lists yard debris at $22.50 per ton, and the WS/FC Utilities schedule lists $37 per ton at Winston-Salem's yard waste sites; HomeGuide puts chipping at $50-$100.
Ground: wet coastal soil or Piedmont slopes add an est. 10% to 30% for mats, rigging or hand carry.
Method: tree, size and chipping prices are HomeGuide national figures (Feb 4, 2026); burning rules come from NC DEQ, the N.C. Forest Service and county offices; disposal fees from Brunswick County and WS/FC Utilities; est. marks our own allowance. Reviewed October 16, 2026.

Common jobs

Pine removal on coastal and Sandhills lots
Oak and poplar removal over Piedmont homes
Hurricane and ice storm cleanup
Brush disposal under state and county burning rules

Service area

County pages on the site: Brunswick (Leland, Southport, Oak Island, Shallotte), Forsyth (Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Clemmons), Johnston (Smithfield, Clayton, Selma, Benson) and Union (Monroe, Waxhaw, Indian Trail, Stallings). Forest Service FIA data put Johnston at about 228,730 forested acres and Union at about 156,661.

If your county isn't listed, the state burning rule and Forest Service permit still apply; ask your county Fire Marshal or Planning department about local rules and debris pickup.

Want a price for a North Carolina tree? The free form below asks only for the species, a rough height and what's beneath it. We reply by email with next steps and, where we know them, insured crews near you.

Communities: Leland, Southport, Oak Island, Shallotte, Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Clemmons, Smithfield, Clayton, Monroe, Waxhaw, Indian Trail

When something can’t wait

When a hurricane or ice storm puts a tree across wires or through a roof, keep everyone clear and call the utility or 911 before any cutting. HomeGuide's survey says emergency crews often bill 2 to 3 times standard rates; photograph the damage and call your insurer early.

Questions about North Carolina

How much does tree removal cost in North Carolina?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey suggests $400 to $1,200 for a typical tree, $250 to $1,600 for a pine and $300 to $2,500 for an oak. Big trees over houses, wet or steep lots and haul-off raise the price.

Can I burn yard debris in North Carolina?

Only vegetation from your own property, only where public pickup isn't available, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., on days without an air quality alert, under NC DEQ's open burning rule.

Who issues burn permits?

The N.C. Forest Service, online or through its county offices. DEQ's Division of Air Quality does not issue permits, and some counties add their own requirements.

Do I need a permit to cut a tree?

Usually not at the state or county level for a private lot, but some towns, such as Oak Island, require a tree removal application.

When is storm season?

Hurricane season runs summer into fall, and the Piedmont and mountains see ice storms in winter. FEMA lists 23 hurricane disaster declarations for the state.

Sources

County pages in North Carolina

Tree problems

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