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Last reviewed 2026-10-19

Tree Removal Cost: Winnebago County, WI

2026 has been a rough year for trees around Lake Winnebago. FEMA declared major disasters for Winnebago County for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding on June 30, 2026, and again for severe storms and tornadoes on October 7, 2026, so many calls right now are for split oaks, uprooted maples and hangers over roofs in Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha and the towns between. HomeGuide's February 2026 national survey puts a typical removal at $400 to $1,200 and a maple at $600 to $1,200.

The county isn't heavily wooded, but what woods it has are mostly hardwood. The Forest Service's 2025 FIA evaluation for Wisconsin estimates about 28,700 acres of forest land in Winnebago County, 63.9% of it oak/hickory, with elm/ash/cottonwood at 13.3% and maple/beech/birch at 11.0%. In town, the big jobs are old silver maples, ash killed by emerald ash borer, and oaks.

Building is steady. The Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counts 283 single-family buildings authorized in Winnebago County in 2025, after 293 in 2024.

Cost at a glance

Winnebago County tree removal cost at a glance
Item	Typical cost	Source
Typical single tree	$400-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Maple	$600-$1,200	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Oak (most common forest group here)	$300-$2,500	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Ash	$650-$2,000	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Emergency storm work	2-3x standard rates	HomeGuide, Feb 2026 (national)
Oshkosh yard waste site permit, city resident	$25 per year	City of Oshkosh
Oshkosh yard waste site permit, non-resident	$125 per year	City of Oshkosh
Wisconsin DNR burning permit	Free	Wisconsin DNR

Permits

We found no county permit for cutting a tree on a private residential lot; cities regulate terrace (street) trees, and HOAs set their own rules.

Burning: Wisconsin DNR burning permits are free and are required in DNR forest fire protection areas whenever the ground isn't completely snow-covered. After 9 a.m. on the day you burn, check the DNR's daily restrictions for Winnebago County. DNR permits don't apply inside incorporated cities and villages such as Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha and Omro, which set their own burning rules, and towns may be stricter than the state.

Disposal in Oshkosh: the city's yard waste drop-off site on 3rd Avenue between Idaho and Ohio streets takes brush up to six feet long and six inches across, but not stumps, roots or lumber. It needs a yearly permit: $25 for city residents and $125 for everyone else, including residents of the towns of Algoma, Black Wolf, Nekimi, Oshkosh and Vinland. For curbside pickup, the City of Oshkosh requires brush bundles no longer than 4 feet, with no branch over 3 inches thick and no bag or bundle over 50 pounds.

Step 1: check whether you're in a city, village or town, since that decides the burning rules. Step 2: pick chipping, the drop-off site, curbside bundles or a permitted burn. Step 3: check the fall zone for the house, garage and power lines. Step 4: compare itemized written bids that say who hauls the trunk wood. Step 5: call Diggers Hotline (811) before stump grinding.

Local conditions

Wet soils along the lakeshore: NRCS soil survey data for Winnebago County (WI139) rate 41.7% of mapped acres somewhat poorly or poorly drained and find a water table within about a foot (30 cm) on 38.8%, most of it along the shores of Lake Winnebago, Lake Butte des Morts and the Wolf and Fox rivers; shallow roots in saturated soil are why big trees tip over in storms.

Floodplain: NRCS data rate 12.0% of mapped acres are subject to flooding, mainly near the lake and river floodplain, which can keep trucks off lawns in spring.

Tornadoes and straight-line winds: FEMA's declarations data list 8 weather-related major disasters for Winnebago County, including 2 tornado and 4 severe storm declarations; two of them came in 2026.

Ash decline: emerald ash borer has killed many of the ash trees planted along streets, and dead ash gets brittle fast, which raises climbing risk and cost.

What drives local prices

Species: HomeGuide's table lists maple at $600-$1,200, oak at $300-$2,500 and ash at $650-$2,000; dead ash can need a lift instead of climbing.
Height: a 30-60 ft shade tree is $500-$1,500 in HomeGuide's height table and a 60-80 ft tree is $850-$2,000.
Storm: HomeGuide's survey says emergency removals often bill 2 to 3 times standard rates, which matters after this year's tornado declarations.
Access: soft, wet lawns near the lake can keep trucks off the yard and push crews to hand-carry or use mats; HomeGuide lists hourly rates of $100-$400+.
Disposal: Oshkosh's drop-off site takes brush only up to six inches thick and needs a $25 or $125 yearly permit; trunk wood is chipped or hauled; HomeGuide puts chipping at $50-$100 and stump removal at $100-$500+.
Method: species, height, storm, hourly, chipping and stump figures are HomeGuide national ranges (Feb 4, 2026); burn rules come from the Wisconsin DNR; disposal rules from the City of Oshkosh. These are not quotes from local crews. Checked October 19, 2026.

Common jobs

Storm-split oak and maple removal
Dead ash removal
Uprooted tree cleanup in wet yards
Stump grinding

Service area

We hear from Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Fox Crossing, Omro, Winneconne, Butte des Morts and Larsen. I-41 runs north-south along the west shore of Lake Winnebago through Oshkosh and Neenah, US 45 heads north from Oshkosh toward Winneconne, US 10 crosses the north end near Fox Crossing, and Highway 21 runs west from Oshkosh to Omro.

Only utility crews should touch limbs on power lines; call your electric utility or Diggers Hotline as needed before work starts.

Ready for a price? Send the species, rough height and what's below it through the free form below. We reply by email with next steps and, where we know them, insured tree crews around Lake Winnebago.

Communities: Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Fox Crossing, Omro, Winneconne, Butte des Morts, Larsen

When something can’t wait

If a storm puts a tree on the house or a line, keep clear and call your utility or 911 before anyone cuts. HomeGuide's survey says emergency crews often charge 2 to 3 times standard rates; photograph damage for your insurer, and watch for city storm-debris pickup announcements before paying to haul.

Questions about Winnebago County

How much does tree removal cost in Winnebago County, WI?

HomeGuide's 2026 survey puts a typical tree at $400 to $1,200. Storm work and large oaks or maples near the house cost more.

Do I need a permit to burn brush?

In DNR forest fire protection areas you need a free DNR permit and must check daily restrictions after 9 a.m. Cities and villages such as Oshkosh and Neenah set their own rules.

Where can I take branches in Oshkosh?

To the yard waste drop-off site on 3rd Avenue with a yearly permit, $25 for residents or $125 for non-residents; brush up to six feet long and six inches thick.

How do I set brush at the curb in Oshkosh?

The City of Oshkosh takes paper bags or tied bundles no longer than 4 feet, with no branch over 3 inches thick and nothing over 50 pounds.

Was Winnebago County part of the 2026 storm declarations?

Yes. FEMA declared disasters for the county on June 30, 2026 and October 7, 2026.

Sources

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.