Tree Removal Cost: Placer County, CA

Placer County climbs from valley-floor subdivisions in Roseville and Lincoln to oak foothills around Auburn and then to Sierra conifer forest above Colfax and around Lake Tahoe, so one county holds three very different kinds of tree job. HomeGuide's cost guide, updated February 2026, puts a typical removal between $400 and $1,200.

The Forest Service's FIA estimates (California 2024 evaluation) count roughly 597,000 acres of forest land within Placer County: 38.6% California mixed conifer, 28.9% western oak woodland, 16.3% fir and mountain hemlock, and 6.3% ponderosa pine.

Growth keeps crews busy on the west side. Census Bureau permit files record 2,462 new one-unit homes permitted in Placer County in 2025, after 2,828 in 2024 and 2,852 in 2023, much of it in the Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln area, where lots are cleared and oaks are worked around.

Permits

Oaks are the trigger. Placer County replaced its old tree chapter with Article 19.50, Woodland Conservation, in late 2020, and in the unincorporated county a native oak generally needs a tree permit before it is cut; the county posts the current charge in its Planning Services fee schedule. Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Auburn and Loomis enforce their own city tree ordinances, so start with city hall if you live inside one.

Fire-safe clearing is a legal duty, not only a choice. California Public Resources Code Section 4291 requires owners of homes in or next to brush and forest land in the state responsibility area to keep 100 feet of defensible space, which in the foothills often means thinning or removing trees near the house.

Burning: Placer County Air Pollution Control District sets burn days, and the county says residential pile burning at a one- or two-family home generally needs no district permit or fee, though CAL FIRE or your local fire agency may require one in season. Check the burn-day line before lighting a pile.

HomeGuide's $400-$1,200 range covers the cutting, not an oak permit, an arborist letter or replacement planting. Step 1: find out whether your parcel is in a city or the unincorporated county. Step 2: identify the species and measure the trunk. Step 3: apply for any oak permit before the crew arrives. Step 4: confirm it is a burn day if you plan to burn. Step 5: call 811 before stump grinding.

Local conditions

Steep, rocky foothills: NRCS soil survey data for western Placer County (CA620) put 43.0% of mapped acres at 15% slope or more and show bedrock within about 100 cm on 53.2%, mostly in the canyon country east of Auburn along the American River and Bear River. Crews there rig trees down in sections and carry brush uphill to the road.

Oak woodland on the valley edge: blue oaks, interior live oaks and valley oaks dominate the rolling ground around Loomis, Newcastle and the west side of Auburn, the same 28.9% oak share the FIA estimates show.

Conifers and snow up high: in the mixed conifer belt near Foresthill, Colfax and Tahoe City, tall pines and firs take heavy snow loads, and bark beetles in drought years leave standing dead trees close to houses.

Storm and fire record: FEMA's declarations data list 12 weather disaster declarations covering Placer County, including 6 severe storms, 4 floods and the 2021 wildfire declaration; the January 2023 winter storms are the most recent.

What drives local prices

Tall conifers: a Sierra pine or fir past 80 feet sits in HomeGuide's top height band of $1,200 to $2,500 or more; a 60- to 80-foot tree falls in its $850 to $2,000 band, and one of 30 to 60 feet in the $500 to $1,500 band.
Oaks versus pines: an oak can cost anywhere from $300 to $2,500 by HomeGuide's count, a pine $250 to $1,600.
Canyon lots: where crews must climb, rig and carry brush uphill, our est. add-on is \1% to 40%.
Leftovers: grinding the stump adds $100 to $500 or more, and chipping the brush $50 to $100, according to HomeGuide.
How we priced this: HomeGuide's national cost guide dated Feb 4, 2026 supplies the dollar ranges; the slope add-on labeled est. is ours, not a Placer County quote. Checked October 20, 2026.

Common jobs

Clearing defensible space around foothill homes near Auburn, Meadow Vista and Foresthill.
Removing dead pines and firs left by drought and beetles above Colfax.
Taking out oaks in the way of a pool, addition or driveway in Granite Bay and Loomis, with an oak permit where required.
Storm cleanup after winter atmospheric rivers drop limbs across roads and roofs.

Service area

Requests come from Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Loomis, Auburn, Newcastle, Colfax, Foresthill, Tahoe City and Kings Beach. I-80 runs from Roseville up through Auburn and Colfax to the lake, Highway 65 serves Lincoln and Rocklin, and Highway 49 links Auburn with the canyon roads.

PG&E lines cross most foothill properties; any tree within reach of a line should be handled by the utility or a line-clearance qualified crew.

Send the free form below with the species, height, slope and what sits under the tree, and we reply by email.

Communities: Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Loomis, Auburn, Newcastle, Colfax, Foresthill, Tahoe City, Kings Beach

When something can’t wait

If a tree is down on a line, stay clear and call PG&E or 911. For a tree resting on the house, shut off what you safely can and get a crew out; storm rates can run 2-3x normal per HomeGuide.

Questions about Placer County

What's the going rate for tree removal in Placer County?

Most single trees run $400 to $1,200 in HomeGuide's 2026 figures, with oaks at $300 to $2,500. Tall conifers on steep foothill lots cost more.

Is a permit required to remove an oak in Placer County?

In the unincorporated county a native oak generally needs a tree permit under Article 19.50. Cities have their own rules, so check with yours first.

Can I burn the branches?

Only on a permissive burn day. The county says home pile burning usually needs no air district permit, but your fire agency may require one in fire season.

Why do foothill jobs cost more than Roseville jobs?

Slope, rock and long carries to the road. NRCS data show 43.0% of western Placer at 15% slope or more.

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.