Tree Removal in Puyallup: Cost and Rules

Big trees are part of why people like living here. They are also the reason for many insurance claims, mossy roofs, and clogged gutters. Deciding whether a tree stays or goes is part safety, part cost, and part rules.

What removal costs

The national average is $850. Stump removal is usually separate, at $100 to $500 or more per stump. Emergency removal after a storm often costs two to three times the standard rate.

Mature Douglas firs around Puyallup routinely top 100 feet. Expect quotes for those at the top of the range or above it.

What drives the price

• Height and trunk diameter.
• What is underneath. A tree that can be dropped in an open yard costs far less than one that has to be taken apart in pieces over a house.
• Access. Can equipment reach it, or does everything get carried out by hand?
• Power lines. Work near lines takes more care and sometimes the utility's involvement.
• Condition. A dead or rotten tree is more dangerous to climb.
• Cleanup. Ask whether the quote includes hauling the wood and grinding the stump.

Check the rules first

Do not assume a tree is yours to cut just because it is in your yard. Before you hire anyone, find out which of these apply.

Right-of-way trees. A tree in the planting strip between the sidewalk and the street is usually in the public right-of-way. Ask the city or county before touching it.

Critical areas. Trees on or near steep slopes, streams, wetlands, and their buffers are regulated. Removing them can require review, and cutting without approval can lead to fines and required replanting. Trees hold slopes together, which is why the rules exist.

Conditions on your lot. Some subdivisions were approved with tree retention areas or greenbelts. Those restrictions are recorded and stay with the property.

Homeowners association rules. Many South Hill neighborhoods have covenants that cover tree removal.

Whose tree is it? A tree on the property line belongs to both owners. Cutting a neighbor's tree, or one you share, without agreement is a serious legal problem in Washington.

Who to ask depends on where you are. Inside city limits, contact the City of Puyallup's permitting office. In unincorporated Pierce County, which includes much of South Hill, use the county's About My Property tool to see what applies to your parcel, including critical areas.

Trees near power lines

Do not prune or remove a tree that is touching or close to a power line yourself. Call your electric utility. For most of Puyallup that is Puget Sound Energy.

Is the tree dangerous?

Signs that call for a professional opinion:

• A new lean, or soil lifting on one side of the base
• Mushrooms or conks growing on the trunk or roots
• Large dead branches in the crown
• Cracks or cavities in the trunk
• A dead top
• Recent construction or trenching over the roots

A certified arborist can assess risk and often recommend pruning or cabling in place of removal. An arborist's written report also helps if a permit or an HOA approval is needed.

Hiring a tree service

Tree work is among the most dangerous jobs there is. Hiring the wrong crew puts your house and your finances at risk.

1. Verify registration and insurance. Look the company up in the state's Verify a Contractor tool. Confirm it is bonded and insured.
2. Ask about workers' compensation. If a worker is hurt and the company is not covered, you may be exposed.
3. Get the scope in writing. Which trees, how low the stump will be cut, what gets hauled, and who repairs lawn damage.
4. Do not pay in full up front.
5. Be careful with door-knockers after a windstorm.

Insurance

Homeowners insurance generally covers damage when a tree falls on your house or fence, along with removal of that tree. It usually does not pay to remove a tree that fell in the yard and hit nothing, or to take down a tree that might fall someday. If you were told a tree was hazardous and ignored it, a claim can get complicated.

Trees and home value

Healthy, well-placed trees add to a property. Buyers like privacy and shade. A large tree leaning over the roof, dropping needles into the gutters and feeding moss, works the other way, and insurers notice.

Before selling, I usually suggest pruning over removal: lift the canopy off the roof, clear the gutters, and take out dead limbs. Remove a tree only when it is hazardous or doing real damage.

Frequently asked questions

How much does tree removal cost in Puyallup?

National guides put most removals at $400 to $1,200, with an average of $850. Trees over 80 feet run $1,200 to $2,500 or more.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Puyallup?

It depends on the location. Trees in the public right-of-way, near steep slopes, streams, or wetlands, or in a recorded retention area are regulated. Ask the city or county before cutting.

Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal?

Usually only when the tree has fallen and damaged a covered structure. Removing a standing tree as a precaution is generally not covered.

Who do I call about a tree near power lines?

Call your electric utility. Do not prune or remove it yourself.

Related reading

• Fence Installation Cost in Puyallup
• Yard Drainage Solutions in Puyallup
• Homeowners Insurance in Puyallup: Costs and Coverage Gaps
• Roof Replacement Cost in Puyallup

Equal Housing Opportunity. Austin Robertson, License # 21036843, Austin Robertson and Allena Robertson Real Estate Brokers, regulated by the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL). This article is general information only. It is not legal, tax, insurance, lending, or construction advice, and it is not an appraisal of any property. Costs, rates, and rules change. Confirm the details with the sources linked above before you act.