Fallen trees, dangerous hanging limbs, or storm cleanup - post free. Genie 911 posting skips the bidding process and connects you directly with the next available local pro. Routine tree trimming and removal is posted under Landscaping & Lawn Care. Larger or leaning trees near structures, power lines, or shared property lines are more complex jobs, so note tree height, proximity to buildings or lines, and whether you need debris hauled away. Some cities and HOAs require a permit before removing certain trees, especially protected or heritage species.
What's Included Under Tree Removal
This category covers dead or hazardous tree removal, storm-damaged limb removal, stump grinding, and small lot clearing when trees are the main scope of the job. Fallen trees, dangerous hanging limbs, and active storm cleanup are flagged for Genie 911 since these situations can pose an immediate safety risk, while routine removal of a dead or unwanted tree and stump grinding are non-emergency jobs you can post on your own timeline. If your job involves clearing several trees to open up a lot for a building project or landscaping, mention the rough number of trees and their approximate size, since lot-clearing jobs are usually priced and staffed differently than removing one specific tree. Stump grinding can be posted alongside a removal or as its own separate job if the tree is already down and only the stump remains.
Trees Near Property Lines and Boundaries
A tree that straddles or leans across a property line raises a genuinely different question than one fully on your own property -- who's responsible for the cost, and whether your neighbor needs to be involved before work starts. In general, if a tree's trunk is on your property, it's typically considered yours to manage even if branches or roots extend onto a neighbor's land, though local rules and any existing agreements between neighbors can affect this, and it's worth having that conversation before a Service Professional shows up rather than during the job. A tree that's clearly on a shared boundary or whose trunk straddles the line is more ambiguous and often benefits from both property owners agreeing on the plan and splitting cost before work begins. Mentioning in your post whether the tree is fully on your property, near a boundary, or shared with a neighbor helps a tree pro understand whether any coordination is needed before they can schedule the work.
Trees Near Power Lines: A Coordination Step, Not Just Equipment
A tree growing into or near power lines isn't simply a matter of a tree company bringing bigger equipment -- in many cases, the utility company needs to be involved before work can safely start, whether that means the utility temporarily de-energizing the line, or a tree Service Professional who's specifically trained and equipped to work near live lines handling that portion of the job. This is worth raising directly with a Service Professional bidding on your job rather than assuming it's already accounted for, since removal near power lines is a genuinely different scope than removal in open yard space, both in required expertise and in scheduling, since utility coordination can add time that a straightforward removal wouldn't need. Mentioning how close the tree or its branches are to any lines, and whether you've already contacted your utility company, helps a pro bid on the real job and timeline rather than a standard removal that doesn't account for that coordination step.
Permits: Two Separate Approval Layers
Tree removal permit requirements can involve two entirely separate layers of approval, and it's easy to satisfy one while missing the other. Municipal or county rules sometimes require a permit for removing certain trees, particularly large, mature, or protected and heritage species, and this is handled through your local building or planning department. Separately, if your property is part of an HOA or a deed-restricted community, the HOA may have its own tree-removal rules or approval process that applies regardless of what the municipality requires, and satisfying the city's permit doesn't automatically satisfy the HOA's. It's worth checking both before work starts, particularly for larger or older trees, and mentioning any permit or HOA approval you've already obtained, or any known restriction on the tree in question, when you post the job -- it can meaningfully affect both the timeline and which Service Professionals are equipped to help with the paperwork side of the process.
Stump Grinding vs. Stump Removal, and What Helps a Pro Bid Accurately
Stump grinding and stump removal are often used interchangeably but describe two different jobs -- grinding chips the visible stump down at or below ground level and leaves the root system in place underground, while full removal excavates the stump and its major roots entirely, which is a bigger job typically needed if you're planning to build, pave, or plant something in that exact spot afterward. For any tree job, the details that help a Service Professional bid accurately include the tree's approximate height and trunk diameter, its proximity to your house, a fence, power lines, or a shared property line, and whether you need the debris and wood hauled away or are fine having it left on-site. A photo showing the tree's size relative to nearby structures often helps more than a written estimate of height, since height is genuinely hard to judge accurately from the ground. For more on handling storm-related tree damage specifically, see what to do in a home emergency, and once you have bids in hand, here's how to compare them beyond just the price.