Tree removal in Redwood City
Removals start at about $1,000 per tree, quoted in writing after a free look at the tree. We check whether the city or the county needs a permit, handle the application, and charge the same for a 2 a.m. emergency as for a weekday booking.
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What tree removal costs in Redwood City
Tree removal in Redwood City costs from about $1,000 per tree with Firefighter Tree Service, and the written estimate you get after a free site visit is the price you pay. Large trees, and trees that have to come down piece by piece over a roof, fence or pool, cost more. An emergency removal costs the same as a scheduled one: we do not add an after-hours surcharge.
Height matters less than most people expect. What sets the number is where the wood can go. A tree with open lawn underneath can be cut in sections and dropped. The same tree over a garage has every limb tied off and lowered on a rope, and the crew spends the day lowering instead of cutting.
| What we look at | Keeps the price near $1,000 | Pushes the price up |
|---|---|---|
| What sits underneath | Open lawn or a bed where sections can drop | A roof, fence, pool or power line, so pieces are roped and lowered |
| Access | The truck and chipper reach the tree from the street or driveway | Backyard only, through a side gate, with wood carried out by hand |
| Size and wood | A small or mid-size tree | A tall pine, eucalyptus or redwood with heavy wood high up |
| Condition | A sound trunk a climber can tie into | Decay that makes climbing unsafe, so the job needs more rigging or a lift |
| The stump | Left at ground level | Ground out, which is quoted as its own line |
Picture two 50-foot pines on the same Farm Hill street. One stands in an open back lawn: a climber takes it down in sections that land on the grass, and the chipper runs from the driveway. The other leans over a detached garage, so each limb is tied off and lowered. Same species, same height, and the second one costs more because of what is under it.
If you want a ballpark before we visit, our tree removal cost calculator runs the same factors. Customers 65 and over get $50 off any tree job.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Redwood City?
Inside Redwood City limits, you need a city permit to remove or prune any tree on private property whose trunk measures more than 38 inches around (about 12 inches across), measured between 6 and 36 inches above the ground. The permit is free, and the city says it is normally processed within ten working days. Street trees on public property are protected too, at any size.
Skipping the permit is expensive. According to the City of Redwood City's tree permit page, removing a protected tree without one is a $500 fine per tree plus a replacement tree equal to the appraised value of the one you took out, and a violation can be charged as a misdemeanor.
To check your own tree, wrap a tape measure around the trunk at its widest point somewhere in that 6 to 36 inch band. More than 38 inches means a permit.
Picture a homeowner in Mount Carmel who takes out a scruffy 45-inch-around pittosporum on a Saturday without asking. A neighbor reports the stump. The bill is $500 plus a replacement tree at the old tree's appraised value, for a permit that would have cost nothing and taken about two weeks.
City address or county address? Check first
A Redwood City mailing address does not always mean Redwood City rules. Parts of the hills west of town, including Emerald Lake Hills, are unincorporated San Mateo County, and the county runs a different permit:
| Inside Redwood City | Unincorporated San Mateo County | |
|---|---|---|
| Protected size | Over 38 inches around, measured 6 to 36 inches up | 12 inches across at breast height; 6 inches in the Residential Hillside district; lower for oak, madrone and buckeye |
| Permit fee | None | About $670 for a removal |
| Typical wait | Normally within ten working days | One to two months |
| Arborist report | Depends on the tree and the reason | Usually required |
| Dead trees | Check with the city before cutting | No permit needed; telling County Planning first is recommended |
The county figures come from San Mateo County's tree pruning and removal permit page. The practical difference is time: a county removal needs a month or more of lead time, so get the application moving before you book anything around it.
How a permitted removal runs with us:
- We measure the tree and confirm the jurisdiction at the free estimate visit.
- We document the reason for removal: dead, failing, damaging a structure, or in the way of approved work.
- The application goes in with photos and a plot plan showing where the tree stands.
- Once it is approved, we schedule the removal and plant any replacement tree the permit requires.
Our Redwood City tree permit guide covers heritage species, replanting rules and what reviewers look for in more detail.
What happens on removal day
A tree removal day with Firefighter Tree Service runs in a fixed order: a walk-through with you, a cleared drop zone, the tree taken down from the top in sections, brush chipped as it comes down, and the yard cleaned before the crew leaves. Most of the time goes into controlling where each piece lands.
- Walk-through. The crew lead confirms which tree is coming out and what has to be protected: roof lines, fences, sprinklers, the neighbor's side.
- Drop zone. The area under the tree is cleared and kept free of people and pets for the rest of the job.
- Top down, in sections. A climber works from the top. Limbs over open ground are cut and dropped; anything over a roof, fence or line is tied off and lowered on a rope.
- Chip and haul. Brush goes through the chipper as it comes down, and the trunk is cut into rounds and hauled away.
- Stump. If your estimate includes grinding, the stump is ground out after the trunk is down.
- Cleanup. The yard, driveway and street are raked and blown before the crew leaves.
How long it takes depends on the tree. Two customers on how their removal days went:
"Dennis (and Tony) came out to remove a huge cedar. The crew arrived on time and the job was done in about 6 hours. Very professional and their quote beats everyone else's. Arrived on time and left no wastes behind."
Kristina R., Yelp review of Firefighter Tree Service
"Fire Fighter Tree Service did an exemplary job with the removal of our ancient Monterey Pines. The crew was professional, efficient, and left the property spotless."
Linda M., Yelp review of Firefighter Tree Service
Remove it, trim it, or have it assessed first?
Removal is the right call when a tree is dead, failing, or standing where something has to be built. When the complaint is shade, a blocked view or a heavy limb over the roof, trimming usually fixes it for less and keeps the tree. Which path is yours depends on why the tree is bothering you:
- If it is dead, leaning, split or has mushrooms at the base, start with a hazardous tree assessment. The written finding is the reason to act and the strongest evidence for the permit.
- If it shades the garden or drops limbs on the roof, ask for a tree trimming price next to the removal price. A healthy protected tree removed for shade is a hard case to make on a permit application; thinning the canopy (which also needs a permit on a protected tree) gets the light back for less.
- If you are planning an addition or an ADU, put the tree into the conversation when your plans go in, not after. San Mateo County asks for removals tied to development to be reviewed with the plans, and a tree discovered late can hold up a building schedule.
- If the tree is your neighbor's, the rules on who can cut what are different; see our guide to neighbor trees under California law.
- If the tree is already gone and only the stump is left, you need stump grinding, not a removal.
- If it is on the house, a car or a power line right now, skip the estimate and call (650) 454-0373. Our 24-hour emergency tree removal page explains what happens after you call.
Say a Roosevelt homeowner calls about an old liquidambar because its roots are lifting the driveway. Trimming will not fix roots, the tree is healthy, and the driveway is the reason. That one goes on the estimate as a removal with a permit application, and the replacement tree goes somewhere its roots have room.
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Tree removal questions we hear in Redwood City
With Firefighter Tree Service, removals start at about $1,000 per tree. Large trees and trees that have to be lowered piece by piece over a roof, fence or pool cost more, because the crew spends the day rigging and lowering instead of dropping. Stump grinding is quoted as its own line. The estimate is free, it comes in writing after we see the tree, and an emergency removal costs the same as a scheduled one.
Inside Redwood City limits, yes, if the trunk measures more than 38 inches around (about 12 inches across) anywhere between 6 and 36 inches above the ground. That city permit is required to prune a protected tree as well as to remove it, and it is free. If your address is in unincorporated San Mateo County, such as Emerald Lake Hills, the county rules apply instead: different size thresholds, a fee of about $670 for a removal, and a longer review.
The City of Redwood City says tree permits are normally processed within ten working days, and there is no fee. San Mateo County estimates one to two months for an unincorporated address, and usually asks for an arborist report with the application. We tell you which one applies at the estimate visit, so the removal date is realistic from the start.
In unincorporated San Mateo County, yes: the county allows dead trees to be removed without a permit, although it recommends telling County Planning first. Inside Redwood City limits, check with the city before cutting a dead protected tree. Being dead is a strong reason for approval, the permit costs nothing, and an unpermitted removal carries a $500 fine plus a replacement tree.
No. A tree we remove at 2 a.m. is priced the same as that tree on a scheduled weekday. Many Bay Area companies add an after-hours premium; we do not. For a tree on a structure or a power line, call (650) 454-0373 at any hour.
Not automatically. Stump grinding is quoted as a separate line on the estimate, so you can keep the stump, have it ground out, or decide later. If you want the spot replanted, grinding is usually worth it.
Yes. Customers 65 and over get $50 off any tree job, removals included. Mention it when you call or book the free estimate.
Our Process
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Three straightforward steps from first call to finished project.
Free Consultation
A certified arborist visits your property, assesses the trees, and discusses your goals. We identify any risks, health issues, or city permit requirements.
Detailed Estimate
You receive a clear, itemized quote with no hidden fees. We explain the scope of work, timeline, and handle any permit paperwork for you.
Expert Service & Cleanup
Our crew arrives on time, completes the work safely, and leaves your property spotless. We haul everything away - you won't know we were there.
Book a free tree removal estimate with Firefighter Tree Service
One visit gets you a written price, the permit answer for your address, and a date. Firefighter Tree Service is firefighter-owned, our arborists are ISA-certified, we are fully insured, and we have worked on more than 500 Bay Area properties. Call (650) 454-0373 or request your free tree removal estimate.
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