A tree that has died, split, or started leaning toward your house is not something to wait on. Tell us what you're seeing and we'll match you with a local tree crew that can quote the job, often from a few photos.
When a tree should come down
Most trees are worth keeping. Removal usually makes sense when one or more of these is true:
- The tree is dead or mostly dead. Dead wood gets brittle fast and limbs drop without warning, especially in wind or under snow.
- There's a structural defect. Large cracks, a split between two co-dominant trunks, fungus at the base, or a trunk that's hollowing out.
- It's leaning more than it used to. A new lean, heaving soil, or exposed roots on one side after a storm is a warning sign.
- It's an ash tree in decline. Emerald ash borer is now established across Massachusetts, and infested ash become dangerous to climb and fell as they dry out. Removing them earlier is usually safer and cheaper.
- It's in the wrong place. Roots lifting a foundation or driveway, branches over a roof that can't be pruned back enough, or a tree blocking a planned addition.
How removal near a house actually works
In a neighborhood, few trees can simply be felled in one piece. A typical residential removal goes like this:
- Assessment. The crew looks at lean, decay, nearby wires, structures, and where equipment can safely go.
- Sectional take-down. A climber or bucket truck removes limbs first, then the trunk in pieces. Heavy pieces are lowered on ropes so nothing drops on the roof, fence, or lawn.
- Crane-assisted removal when a tree is too risky to climb or hangs over a house. Pieces are lifted out instead of lowered.
- Cleanup. Brush is chipped, logs are hauled away or cut to length and left for firewood if you ask.
- Stump. Stumps are left at ground level unless you add stump grinding.
What affects the price of a tree removal
There's no honest flat price for tree removal. Quotes depend on:
- Height and trunk diameter of the tree
- What's underneath it: house, deck, power lines, septic system, garden
- Access for a bucket truck or crane versus climbing and hand-carrying brush
- Condition of the wood (dead ash and rotted trees take more care)
- Whether you want the wood hauled, the stump ground, or the area raked out
Sending a couple of photos with your quote request (one of the whole tree, one showing what's around it) speeds things up.
Trees on the street edge: check before you cut
In Massachusetts, trees within a public way or on its boundary are treated as public shade trees. Under the state shade tree law they can't be cut, trimmed, or removed without the town tree warden's permission, and removals generally require a posted public hearing. If the tree is along a road your town has designated as a scenic road, the planning board may also be involved. If you're not sure whether a tree near the road is yours, call your town's tree warden or DPW first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own property in Massachusetts?
For a tree that is clearly on your private land, there's usually no state permit. The exceptions: trees in or on the edge of the public way (public shade trees need the tree warden's permission and usually a public hearing), work near wetlands or streams that falls under your conservation commission, and any local bylaw or development permit conditions. When in doubt, call the town before work starts.
Will the crew remove the stump too?
Not automatically. Standard removal leaves the stump cut close to the ground. Stump grinding is usually quoted as an add-on, and it's often cheaper to do it the same day while the crew is already there.
Can you take down a tree that's leaning over my house?
Yes. That's what sectional rigging and crane removals are for. The tree is taken apart from the top down and pieces are lowered or lifted away from the roof rather than felled.
Is it safe to wait until spring to remove a dead tree?
If the tree is small, isolated, and nothing is under it, maybe. A dead tree over a house, driveway, or wires is more likely to fail in winter wind or under heavy wet snow. Getting a quote now costs nothing.
What should I do about my ash trees?
Emerald ash borer has been confirmed across Massachusetts. If an ash has thinning upper branches, bark splits, or woodpecker damage, have it looked at. Healthy, high-value ash can sometimes be protected with treatment, while declining ones are usually best removed before they become brittle.
Sources and further reading
- M.G.L. c.87 §3 – Public shade trees (malegislature.gov)
- Laws Protecting Community Trees (Mass. DCR, mass.gov)
- Emerald Ash Borer in Massachusetts (mass.gov)
General information only, not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with your town before work begins.