Tree removal across Central Florida

We take down big oaks, dead trees and trees close to the house, and we grind stumps.

Only need limbs cut back? See tree and palm trimming. Need brush or a fallen tree hauled off? See yard cleanup and hauling.

How a removal job goes

Call Gregory, text him a photo of the whole tree, or send a request.
Gregory gets back to you.
He gives you a price or comes to look.
On the day, the crew takes the tree down.

What affects the price

How tall the tree is and how thick the trunk is
How close it stands to the house, a fence, a pool cage or power lines
Whether the job needs a lift or a crane
Access, including back yards and gate width
Hauling the wood away or leaving it
Grinding the stump

We don't post prices, because no two trees or yards are the same.

Stump grinding

A stump grinder cuts the stump down into wood chips. Tell Gregory if you want the stump ground when you ask for a price.

Utilities don't mark private sprinkler lines. Tell us where yours run.

Stump grinder cutting a stump into chips
Stump grinding next to a pool cage

Storm-damaged trees

Stay away from downed lines. Call your electric company, or 911 if anyone is in danger.

Tree on a house, car or fence? Call Gregory.

Before you hire anyone after a storm, read the Florida Attorney General's advice on storm scams. It says to get written estimates and never pay in full up front.

Tree rules where you live

Do I need a permit to take down a tree?

It depends on where you live.

Your city or county can tell you what applies at your home.

Fla. Stat. 163.045 limits what a city or the county can require for a tree on residential property. If you have the right documentation, they can't require a notice, permit, fee or replanting.

That documentation comes from an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect. It is a signed assessment, made on site. It shows the tree "poses an unacceptable risk to persons or property." It also shows that removal is the only practical way to bring the risk below moderate.

The law applies only to a single-family detached home, on a lot actively used as one. Duplexes and townhomes don't qualify.

We're not ISA Certified Arborists, so we can't write that assessment.

Check your HOA's rules too. State law speaks only to local governments.

General information, not legal advice. Check with your city or county before you cut.

Sources: Fla. Stat. 163.045; Florida tree law guide (fltreelaw.org); City of Tampa: how it reads the tree removal exemption

General information, not legal advice. Check with your city or county before you cut. Rules as of October 10, 2026.

Anywhere in Florida

Fla. Stat. 163.045 limits what a city or the county can require for a tree at a single-family home. It applies when an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect signs an on-site assessment showing an unacceptable risk. Details are in the permit question above. Call before you cut; rules change.

Source: Fla. Stat. 163.045

Haines City

Ask the city about a tree at your home. Call before you cut; rules change.

Source: Haines City land development regulations, Sec. 10.4.1

Winter Haven

Ask the city about a tree at your home. Call before you cut; rules change.

Source: Winter Haven code, Sec. 21-183

Lakeland

Ask the city about a tree at your home. Call before you cut; rules change.

Source: Lakeland land development code, Sec. 4.5

Davenport

Ask the city about a tree at your home. Call before you cut; rules change.

Source: Davenport code, Sec. 6.5-57

Unincorporated Polk County

Ask the county about a tree at your home. Call before you cut; rules change.

Source: Polk County land development code, Sec. 720

Lake Hamilton, Dundee, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales, Auburndale, Eagle Lake, Bartow, Kissimmee and Poinciana

We haven't researched the rules in these towns. Kissimmee is in Osceola County, and Poinciana spans Polk and Osceola counties. Ask your city or county. Call before you cut; rules change.

HOAs

State law speaks only to local governments. Check your HOA's rules too. Call before you cut; rules change.

Not sure we work in your town? See where we work.

Removal questions

Are you licensed or certified arborists?

Florida has no state license for tree work, and local tree-trimmer licenses ended in July 2025. We're a tree crew, not ISA Certified Arborists.

If you need a formal risk assessment, for example to skip a city permit, hire an ISA Certified Arborist. You can find one in ISA's Find an Arborist directory.

General information, not legal advice. Check with your city or county before you cut.

Sources: Fla. Stat. 163.211; UF/IFAS: Beyond the license (July 2025); ISA: Find an Arborist FAQ (PDF)

What does tree removal cost?

It depends on the tree and the yard. The list under "What affects the price" shows what changes it.

We don't post prices, because no two jobs are the same. Gregory gives you a price for your job, or comes to look first.

There's a big nest in the tree. Can you still take it down?

It depends on the nest. Bald eagle nests have their own rules.

FWC, Florida's wildlife agency, recommends a 660-foot buffer around an eagle nest. Since 2017, only a federal permit is needed, not a state one.

If you think it may be an eagle nest, tell Gregory before the job.

General information, not legal advice. Check with your city or county before you cut.

Sources: FWC: bald eagle questions and answers; FWC: bald eagle management

What customers say

4.8 out of 5 from more than 260 reviews on Thumbtack, checked October 10, 2026. On Thumbtack you'll find us under our earlier name, Top Of The Line Tree Service. Read all our reviews on Thumbtack, good and bad.