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Last reviewed 2026-10-17

Washington County, UT Tree Removal Cost

In St. George and its neighbors the trees coming out are mostly planted ones: Arizona ash, mulberry, cottonwood, pine and palms in desert yards, plus juniper and pinyon on lots at the edge of town. HomeGuide's February 2026 national survey puts a typical removal at $400 to $1,200, ash at $650 to $2,000 and palm at $200 to $1,200.

Beyond the irrigated valley the county is woodland and desert. The Forest Service's 2022 FIA evaluation for Utah counts about 759,700 forested acres in Washington County: 60.5% pinyon/juniper, 20.0% woodland hardwoods such as Gambel oak and mountain mahogany, and 12.7% nonstocked. New subdivisions in Washington, Hurricane and Ivins push into that woodland.

Growth is steady: the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 2,497 single-family buildings authorized in Washington County in 2025, up from 2,134 in 2023.

Cost at a glance

Washington County tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Ash	$650-$2,000	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Palm	$200-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Residential landfill loads under one ton per month	Free	Washington County Solid Waste 2026
St. George burn permit	Free, needed each burn day	St. George Fire Department
Land-clearing burns in St. George	Not permitted	St. George Fire Department

Permits

We found no county permit for taking down a tree on a private residential lot in Washington County; check your city's street-tree rules and your HOA, since many St. George-area neighborhoods have their own landscaping rules.

Burning has its own calendar here. Utah's air rule R307-202 puts Washington County in the southern group, where residential cleanup burning is allowed by permit from March 1 to May 30 and September 15 to November 15, on days with a clearing index of 500 or higher. The St. George Fire Department says its season runs September 15 to May 30, the permit is free but needed for each day you burn, piles can be no larger than 3 by 3 by 3 feet and must sit 25 feet from structures, burning is daylight only, and land-clearing (developmental) burning is not permitted.

Most debris goes to the landfill instead. The Washington County Solid Waste fee schedule for 2026 says residential loads under one ton per month are free, with woodchips sold at $27.60 per ton and construction and demolition waste charged at $32 per ton.

Step 1: check your city and HOA rules. Step 2: pick haul-off, chipping or a small permitted pile in season. Step 3: walk the fall zone for the house, walls and power lines. Step 4: compare itemized written bids. Step 5: call Utah 811 before grinding.

Local conditions

Rock and slope: the NRCS soil survey for the Washington County Area (UT641) finds bedrock within about 39 inches (100 cm) on 31.8% of mapped acres and slopes of 15% or more on 31.8%. Stumps on sandstone or lava often can't be ground to full depth.

Flash floods: FEMA's declarations data list 4 weather-related major disasters for Washington County: the 1989 dike failure and flash flooding, the January 2005 storms and flooding, the December 2010 winter storm and flooding, and the September 2012 storm and flooding. Washes undercut trees along their banks.

Heat and drought: desert yard trees rely on irrigation, and a stressed ash or cottonwood can drop large limbs without warning.

Palms and pines: tall fan palms and Aleppo or Afghan pines are common in older neighborhoods and need a lift or climber.

What drives local prices

Species: HomeGuide's table lists ash at $650-$2,000, palm at $200-$1,200 and pine at $250-$1,600.
Size: trees under 30 ft run $200-$500 and 30-60 ft trees $500-$1,500 on HomeGuide's survey.
Disposal: Washington County Solid Waste lets residents drop loads under one ton a month free, which keeps haul-off low.
Rock: shallow sandstone and lava make stump work harder; HomeGuide's survey puts stump removal at $100-$500+.
Summer heat: crews start early and stop by midafternoon in July, an est. 10% to 15% longer job; HomeGuide also notes summer and fall prices can run 10% to 20% higher.
Method: species, size and stump ranges are HomeGuide national figures (Feb 4, 2026); burn rules come from Utah DAQ rule R307-202 and St. George Fire; disposal fees from Washington County Solid Waste; est. marks our own allowance. Checked October 16, 2026.

Common jobs

Ash, mulberry and cottonwood removal in irrigated yards
Palm and pine removal in older neighborhoods
Juniper and pinyon clearing on new lots
Haul-off to the county landfill

Service area

Most calls come from St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Ivins, Santa Clara, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Leeds, Springdale and Enterprise. I-15 runs through St. George and Washington and up past Leeds, SR 9 heads east through Hurricane and LaVerkin toward Springdale and Zion, SR 18 runs north from St. George past Snow Canyon, and the Southern Parkway (SR 7) serves the airport side of town.

No county bordering Washington (Iron and Kane in Utah, Mohave County in Arizona, Lincoln County in Nevada) has a page on the site yet. The Utah hub links our Davis and Tooele county pages.

Tell us about the tree with the free form below: species, rough height and what sits beneath it. We reply by email with next steps and, when we know them, insured crews in southern Utah.

Communities: St. George, Washington, Hurricane, Ivins, Santa Clara, LaVerkin, Toquerville, Leeds, Springdale, Enterprise

When something can’t wait

If wind or a flash flood drops a tree on the house or a line, keep clear and call the power company or 911 before any cutting. HomeGuide's survey says emergency work often costs 2 to 3 times standard rates; photograph the damage for your insurer.

Questions about Washington County

How much does tree removal cost in Washington County, UT?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts a typical tree at $400 to $1,200. Tall palms and pines, rocky stumps and tight yards cost more.

Can I burn branches in St. George?

Only small piles in season. The St. George Fire Department says burning is allowed from September 15 to May 30 with a free daily permit, in piles no bigger than 3 by 3 by 3 feet, 25 feet from structures.

Is the landfill free?

For small loads, yes. Washington County Solid Waste's 2026 fees say residential loads under one ton per month are free.

Do I need a permit to cut a tree?

We found no county permit for a private residential lot. Check your city and HOA rules first.

Can I burn debris from clearing a lot?

Not in St. George; its fire department says developmental burning is not permitted. Clearing debris is chipped or hauled.

Sources

Nearby counties

Utah tree removal hub

Tree problems

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