Tree Removal Cost: St. Tammany Parish, LA

St. Tammany is the Northshore: Mandeville, Covington, Slidell and Abita Springs under live oaks, pines and cypress, with Lake Pontchartrain to the south. Storms drive the work here more than anywhere else on this site. HomeGuide's early-2026 pricing data puts a typical removal between $400 and $1,200.

The Forest Service's FIA estimates (Louisiana 2025 evaluation) count about 308,000 acres of forest land: 36.5% oak/gum/cypress, 23.5% loblolly/shortleaf pine, 17.3% longleaf/slash pine and 13.3% oak/pine.

FEMA's declarations data list 30 weather disaster declarations covering the parish, 18 of them hurricanes, from Ida in 2021 to Francine in 2024 and a 2026 tropical storm declaration.

Permits

Clearing needs parish review. St. Tammany Parish's land clearing application carries a $250 review fee, which doubles to $500 if clearing has already started. A permit or written approval is needed for larger clearing, and live oaks and cypress get special protection in the parish's development rules, so ask Planning before removing either.

Licensed arborists: Louisiana requires tree work for hire to be done by or under an arborist licensed through the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry's Horticulture Commission. Ask for the license number.

Burning: LDAF says state and local governments impose burn bans when fire risk rises, and parish rules can be stricter than the state's; only vegetation may be burned where burning is allowed.

Step 1: check whether you are in Mandeville, Covington, Slidell or another town with its own tree rules, or in the unincorporated parish. Step 2: ask Planning about live oak or cypress protection and any clearing application. Step 3: verify the arborist license. Step 4: compare written quotes. Step 5: have buried lines marked through 811 before the stump grinder arrives.

Local conditions

Wet ground: NRCS soil survey data for St. Tammany (LA103) rate 40.7% of mapped acres as hydric, 52.0% with a water table within about 30 cm at some point in the year and 27.9% as occasionally or frequently flooded, worst along the lake shore near Slidell and Lacombe and the Pearl River bottoms on the east.

Almost no slope: under 1% of the parish's mapped acres reach 8% slope per the NRCS data, so equipment access depends on how wet the ground is, not grade.

Hurricane pines: tall loblolly and slash pines on wet sand snap or uproot in hurricane wind, and live oaks drop huge limbs across roofs in Mandeville and Covington.

Cypress and tupelo in the swamps along the bayous near Lacombe stay protected and are rarely removed.

What drives local prices

Pines are the common Northshore removal; HomeGuide's species table runs $250 to $1,600 per pine.
Big live oaks can cost up to $2,500 or more, and trees over 80 feet $1,200 to $2,500 or more, per HomeGuide.
After a hurricane or other storm, HomeGuide notes emergency work can run 2-3x normal rates.
Soft ground may need mats or smaller machines; our est. add-on is \1% to 25%. The parish's $250 clearing review fee applies only to larger clearing.
How we priced it: the dollar ranges are quoted from HomeGuide's published national cost guide dated Feb 4, 2026 and the parish's application fee; lines marked est. are ours. Checked October 20, 2026.

Common jobs

Post-hurricane removals of snapped pines and split live oaks.
Lot clearing for new homes in Covington and Madisonville, with parish review.
Pruning and removing live oak limbs over roofs.
Hauling storm debris after tropical storms.

Service area

Calls come from Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Pearl River, Folsom and Lacombe. I-12 crosses the parish east to west, I-10 and I-59 meet near Slidell, and US 190 links Covington, Mandeville and Lacombe.

Cleco and Washington-St. Tammany Electric lines run through the parish.

Fill in the free form below, noting the tree type, rough height and what's under the tree.

Communities: Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Pearl River, Folsom, Lacombe

When something can’t wait

After a hurricane, stay off roofs and away from lines; call Cleco or WST Electric for wires. Emergency rates can run 2-3x normal per HomeGuide.

Questions about St. Tammany Parish

How much is tree removal on the Northshore?

HomeGuide's 2026 national data put a typical removal between $400 and $1,200; big live oaks and post-storm work cost more.

Can I remove a live oak in St. Tammany?

Live oaks and cypress are protected in parish development rules. Ask Planning before cutting one.

Does a tree service need a license in Louisiana?

Yes. Tree work for hire must be done by or under an LDAF-licensed arborist.

What does the parish charge to review land clearing?

The land clearing application lists a $250 review fee, or $500 if clearing has already begun.

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.