Tree removal in Houston, TX is handled by Sticks Tree Service out of its Cypress office, on the northwest side of the city and beyond. Houston has a city permit for removing trees on city property, so the first question on any job is whose tree it is. Call 281-373-1472 to have Trey Lamar’s crew take a look.
Do you offer tree removal in Houston, TX?
Yes. Trey’s crew removes dead, damaged and unwanted trees on Houston home and business lots, heading southeast from 14120 Cypress North Houston Rd. Jobs range from one dead pine behind a house to a large oak that has split over a driveway.
Whose tree is it?
The Houston Permitting Center says a permit is required to remove any tree on city property, including rights of way, medians and parks, and for trees on a setback. The permit has to be posted on site 20 days before the work, review takes about 10 business days, the permit is good for one year, and fees vary with the size and location of the tree. To report an illegal street-tree removal, the city lists the Urban Park Rangers at 832-395-7100.
The tree near the curb is the one to ask about. If it sits in the right of way, it is a city tree, and the city has its own process for it. A tree in the back yard is a different matter, but deed restrictions still count in a city without zoning. The City Planning page on Chapter 33 describes tree and shrub standards and a protected trees list as well.
Why so many Houston trees come down
Houston’s canopy has had a hard run. In 2011, CultureMap Houston reported an estimate that 66 million of the region’s more than 660 million trees would die and be removed within two years of that summer’s drought, and Memorial Park later needed large-scale removal of dead trees. In July 2024, Texas A&M Forest Service estimated that about half of Houston-area urban trees were affected by Hurricane Beryl. Trees weakened by one event often fail in the next.
Around Houston
Three Houston landmarks tied to its trees and its northwest side:
- Memorial Park, where dead trees were cleared on a large scale after the 2011 drought
- Sam Houston Race Park, about a mile from Willowbrook
- the live oaks along Main Street
How a Houston removal goes
- Ownership first. The crew and the owner settle whether the tree is on the lot, on a setback, or in the right of way.
- Permit if needed. City-property and setback trees go through the city permit before work is booked.
- Section it. On tighter Houston lots, trees are climbed and cut in pieces, lowered past roofs, fences and service lines.
- Clear the site. Brush is chipped, wood is hauled, and the drive is blown clean.
- Stump. Grinding is available as a separate step.
What goes into the quote?
A Houston removal quote is shaped by the tree’s size and condition, what it would hit if it fell the wrong way, how the crew gets to it, any lines running through the crown, the amount of wood to haul, and, for city-property trees, the time to wait for the permit posting.
Related pages
The city pages for the other two services are tree trimming in Houston and stump grinding in Houston. For the service near the office, see tree removal in Cypress. Everything else is on tree service in Cypress, TX.
Sources
- Houston Permitting Center, Tree Removal/Tree Trimming permit (PRD1001)
- City of Houston Planning, Tree and Shrub ordinance (Chapter 33)
- Off the Kuff, on Houston trees after Beryl (city cannot work on private property)
- Wikipedia, Houston
- CultureMap Houston, More than 66 million trees expected to die in the Houston area (Sept. 1, 2011)
- CultureMap Houston, Bringing Memorial Park back (Apr. 13, 2012)
- Community Impact, About 50% of Houston-area trees took hit from Beryl winds (July 12, 2024)
- Wikipedia, Willowbrook, Houston
Tree Removal in Houston: frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Houston?
For a tree on city property, such as a right of way, median or park, or on a setback, yes. The Houston Permitting Center lists the permit, a 20-day posting period and about 10 business days for review.
How do I know if the tree by the street is a city tree?
If it stands in the right of way between the lot and the street, it may be city property. Ask the city before anyone cuts it.
Will the City of Houston remove a dead tree on my property?
No. Owners are responsible for trees on private property; the city does not come onto private land to trim or remove them.
Can a tree be taken down next to my house on a small lot?
Yes. It is climbed and cut in sections, with each piece lowered by rope past the roof and fence.
How long is a Houston tree permit good for?
The Houston Permitting Center lists one year from issue.
Who do I call about a street tree cut illegally?
The city lists the Urban Park Rangers dispatch at 832-395-7100.
Sticks Tree Service Inc, 14120 Cypress North Houston Rd, Cypress, TX 77429. Phone 281-373-1472.