Tree trouble in the Midlands? Pick your area
Tree work you can get quoted in Columbia
Columbia's yards are full of tall pines, oaks and other hardwoods. Here's the work local tree services quote most often.
Tree removal
Taking down dead, dying, hazardous or unwanted trees, often in sections when they're close to houses, fences or lines.
Get this quoted →Storm and emergency work
Trees and limbs down on roofs, cars or driveways after storms. If anything is touching a power line, stay away and call the utility first.
Get this quoted →Stump grinding
Grinding the stump below grade so you can replant or lay sod. Often priced separately from the removal.
Get this quoted →Trimming and pruning
Removing dead wood, raising canopies and clearing branches from roofs. Good pruning is often cheaper than removal.
Get this quoted →Hazard assessment
A certified arborist can judge whether a leaning or damaged tree is actually dangerous, which helps if your city or insurer asks for a report.
Get this quoted →Lot and land clearing
Clearing brush and multiple trees, which may require city approval on non-single-family property.
Get this quoted →What tree removal usually costs
Height matters most. Access, nearby structures and power lines, stump grinding and haul-away also change the price. No public agency publishes tree-service prices, so we don't show any. The costs that are published are the agencies' fees and limits, below.
Columbia's large loblolly pines and mature oaks often fall into the taller brackets, and removals near houses take more rigging time. A local pro will price your tree after seeing it.
Free Quote Request| Item | Published fee or limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| City of Columbia Tree Removal Permit (private property; not for street trees) | No fee | City of Columbia, Landscape & Tree Ordinance |
| City of Columbia Forestry Permit (street and public trees) | Fee set by the UDO fee schedule | City of Columbia, Forestry Permit application |
| Dominion Energy Lake Murray Limited Brushing permit | $100 | Dominion Energy, Lake Murray fee schedule |
| Typical homeowners-policy limit for removing a fallen tree | Up to $1,000 in reasonable expenses; $500 per tree | SC Attorney General, quoting SCDOI |
| Percentage deductible example | 2% of $250,000 = $5,000 | SCDOI, Post-Disaster Claims Guide |
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Columbia?
It depends on the property and the tree. The City of Columbia's Landscape and Tree Ordinance requires a Tree Removal Permit to remove trees on private property, but the city's guidance excludes single-family residential lots from that permit. Any work on a tree in the public right-of-way or on city property, including pruning, needs a separate Forestry Permit.
On other property, such as commercial sites, multifamily and new development, the city requires permission to remove grand trees (24 inches or more in diameter for hardwoods, 30 inches for softwoods, 10 inches for small hardwoods) and trees in protected zones, and replacement can be required. A certified arborist's report may be needed when removal is requested because a tree is diseased or hazardous. Homes outside city limits fall under Richland or Lexington County rules instead.
- Single-family lots: excluded from the city's private-property Tree Removal Permit
- Street trees and city property: Forestry Permit required for any work
- Other property: permission needed for grand trees and protected-zone trees
- Check your HOA rules and whether your address is inside city limits
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm with the City of Columbia Planning and Development Services department before work starts.