#1 Tree Removal & Trimming Service Provider
in Tampa
Tree Removal in Tampa, FL
Tampa Elite Tree Service removes dead, failing and unwanted trees across Tampa, from a single laurel oak over a South Tampa bungalow to a row of storm-cracked pines on a Seminole Heights lot. Every job starts with an ISA Certified Arborist looking at the tree, the soil and the permit rules that apply to your address.
Two local conditions shape every removal here. Our yards sit on loose, sandy flatwoods soil over a shallow water table, so roots spread wide and shallow and let go fast when the ground is soaked. And the City of Tampa protects most oaks, pines and elms once the trunk passes 5 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet, so the paperwork matters as much as the saw work.
Our removal crews cover the city limits and the suburbs around it, including Carrollwood, Town 'n' Country, Westchase, Temple Terrace, Brandon, Riverview, Apollo Beach, Lutz, Odessa & more. If you want to budget before we visit, our breakdown of what tree removal costs in Tampa lists our ranges by tree height.
Why Choose Us
- Licensed and insured for hazardous removals and complex jobs
- Decades of combined crew experience
- Free, transparent estimates before any work begins
- Full-service: removal, pruning, stump grinding, and storm cleanup
- Local knowledge of Tampa's soil conditions, storm patterns, and tree species
- Modern, well-maintained equipment for safe, efficient jobs
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Tree Removal Services
Dead & Dying Tree Removal
A dead tree in Tampa does not stand for long. Our humidity and summer rain speed up wood decay, and a trunk that looked sound in spring can drop limbs by August.
We check for bark sloughing, conks at the base, hollow sounding wood and bare crowns, then take the tree down in sections before the next squall line does it for you. In unincorporated Hillsborough County, a tree with no living tissue generally needs no removal permit, and we will tell you when that applies.
Laurel & Water Oak Removal
Laurel oaks shade a huge share of older Tampa neighborhoods. University of Florida research puts their useful life around 50 years, with decline often starting near 40, and heart rot hides inside trunks that still carry a full canopy.
Water oaks have a similar habit. Both rank among the least wind-firm trees in Florida hurricane surveys, so when one of them leans over a bedroom, we usually recommend taking it down rather than gambling on another season.
Crane Removal on Tight Lots
Hyde Park, Davis Islands and Palma Ceia lots are narrow, and big trees often grow between the house, a pool cage and the neighbor's garage. When rigging alone would put too much load over a roof, we bring in a crane and lift sections straight out.
A crane typically adds $500 to $1,500 to the job, but it can cut a two-day rigging removal down to a morning and keeps heavy wood off your lanai screen.
Diseased Palm & Tree Removal
Lethal bronzing was first found in Hillsborough County in 2006 and still kills sabal, queen and date palms across the area. Ganoderma butt rot does the same from the base up. Neither has a cure, and UF guidance is to remove infected palms promptly.
We also take down redbay, avocado and camphor trees killed by laurel wilt, chipping the wood on site so the beetles that carry the fungus do not ride along in a truck to someone else's yard.
Leaning & Hazardous Trees
A slow lean that has held for 20 years is one thing. A fresh lean after a week of rain, with cracked soil or lifted roots on the far side, means the root plate is failing in wet sand and the tree needs attention now.
Our arborist rates the risk using the tree risk assessment method the City of Tampa recognizes, which also tells us whether the state statutory exemption can apply to your removal.
Large Live Oak Removal
Live oaks are the toughest trees in Tampa and usually worth keeping, so we take one down only when it is dead, badly decayed or truly in the way of a structure. Many have trunks 32 inches or more across, which makes them grand trees under city code.
Grand tree removal can require variance or City Council review, so we lay out the options, including cabling or crown reduction, before anyone talks about cutting.
Our Tree Removal Process
Most Tampa removals follow the same five steps. The permit step is the one that varies the most, because the City of Tampa, unincorporated Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace and Pasco County all run their own rules.
1. Site Visit & Written Estimate
We measure trunk diameter at 4.5 feet, note species and condition, and check access for trucks, chippers and a crane. You get a written price with no deposit required on residential work.
2. Permit or Exemption Paperwork
Inside city limits, protected trees need a removal permit filed through the city's Accela portal, and replacement planting or a tree fund payment is often required. If the tree poses an unacceptable risk to a single-family home, our ISA Certified Arborist can sign the documentation that Florida Statute 163.045 allows in place of a permit.
3. Utility Check & Site Protection
We confirm where the Tampa Electric service drop runs, set mats over turf and pavers, and mark a drop zone away from pool cages, irrigation heads and septic lids.
4. Sectional Takedown
Climbers or a bucket truck remove the canopy from the top down, lowering heavy wood on ropes. Crane picks are planned in advance so the lift happens in one clean sequence.
5. Cleanup & Stump Options
Brush is chipped, logs are hauled, and the lawn is raked and blown. If you want the stump gone as well, our stump grinding crew can follow the same day or on a later visit.
Tree Removal Questions From Tampa Homeowners
What does tree removal cost in Tampa?
Most single trees run between $450 and $2,000. A small tree under 25 feet is usually $300 to $600, a 25 to 50 foot tree $700 to $1,400, and a 50 to 75 foot oak $1,400 to $2,500. Trees above 75 feet start around $2,500 and climb from there, mainly because of rigging time and crane needs.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the City of Tampa?
Usually, yes, for protected species 5 inches and larger at breast height, and grand trees of 32 inches or more face a tougher review. Invasive species on the state exotic plant list are exempt. We check your tree and tell you which path applies before any work is scheduled.
How does the Florida Statute 163.045 exemption work?
On a property with a single-family detached home, you may remove a tree without a local permit if an ISA Certified Arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect documents that it poses an unacceptable risk. Tampa expects that documentation to follow the Tree Risk Assessment Best Management Practices and to be signed, one assessment per tree. Townhomes, duplexes and commercial property do not qualify.
Are the rules different outside the city limits?
They are. In unincorporated Hillsborough County, a home with an existing house generally needs a permit for trees 12 inches and larger, while Temple Terrace and Plant City set their own rules. Wesley Chapel and Land O' Lakes fall under Pasco County.
Should I remove a laurel oak before hurricane season?
If it is past 40 years old, has decay, or hangs over living space, spring is a good time to decide, since hurricane season opens June 1. Not every laurel oak needs to go, and a thinning or tree trimming visit can buy time for a healthy one.
Are your estimates free?
Yes. We walk the property, measure the tree and hand you a written price. There is no deposit on residential jobs and no pressure to book.