- Nassau/Suffolk HIC-licensed contractors
- Liability insurance required
- Itemized quotes
When a tree should come down
Not every problem tree needs removal. Pruning or cabling can save some. These are the signs that usually mean removal:
- Dead or mostly dead: no leaves in season, bark falling off, brittle limbs dropping. Dead wood gets more dangerous and more expensive to remove every year it stands.
- A new or worsening lean, especially with cracked or heaved soil on the opposite side. That's classic wind-throw risk in Long Island's sandy soil.
- Trunk decay: cavities, mushrooms or conks at the base, or oozing cracks.
- Disease with no good treatment: advanced beech leaf disease, oak wilt (red oaks), or southern pine beetle in pitch pines.
- Structural conflict: roots lifting the foundation, driveway or pool deck, or a trunk growing into wires.
- Split or weak unions: a common failure in aging Bradford pears and in multi-trunk maples.
If you're unsure, ask for an ISA Certified Arborist assessment. In some towns (Huntington, for example), an arborist letter for a dead or hazardous tree can also get you a permit exemption.
What tree removal costs on Long Island
| Job | Typical Long Island range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree (under 30 ft) | $300 – $800 | Ornamentals, young maples, cherry, arborvitae. Open access, simple drop. |
| Medium tree (30–60 ft) | $700 – $2,000 | Most backyard oaks, maples, and pines on Long Island lots. |
| Large tree (60 ft +) | $1,500 – $3,500+ | Mature North Shore oaks, tulip poplars, tall pitch and white pines. |
| Crane-assisted removal | Crane often adds $1,500 – $3,500 | Over a house, pool or wires, or with no drop zone. Crane jobs cost more overall, but can be faster and safer than climbing over a roof. |
| Storm / emergency removal | $500 – $3,000 per tree | After-hours premium is common. A crane, if needed, is extra. |
| Hourly crew rate (3-person crew) | $240 – $320 / hr | Used for cleanup, brush and odd jobs rather than full removals. |
What moves the price most, in order:
- What's under it. A tree that can be dropped in an open yard costs a fraction of one that must be taken down piece by piece over a roof, pool or wires.
- Size and species. Big oaks and hickories are heavy and dense. Pines are lighter and faster.
- Condition. Dead and storm-damaged trees can't be climbed safely, so they often need a bucket truck or crane.
- Access. A 3-foot side gate, a slope or a fenced backyard pool means more hand-carrying and smaller equipment.
- Extras. Stump grinding, log removal, permits and lawn repair.
See the full Long Island tree removal cost guide for examples and money-saving tips.
How a removal job works
- Estimate: the contractor looks at the tree, targets (house, wires, fence), access, and whether a permit is needed.
- Permit (if required): towns like North Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Huntington need an application before work. Licensed contractors usually handle it. Allow 10–20 days in some towns.
- Take-down: felling in one piece if there's room, otherwise sectional removal with ropes or a crane.
- Cleanup: brush chipped and hauled, trunk wood cut up or removed, lawn raked.
- Stump: ground below grade, or left if you prefer (cheaper).
Crane tree removal
Cranes are common on Long Island's tight lots, especially for big trees leaning over houses in Levittown-style neighborhoods or on hilly North Shore lots in Huntington and Port Washington. The crane itself often adds $1,500–$3,500, but it can cut hours of climbing and reduce the risk of dropping heavy wood onto a roof. Complex crane jobs can reach $6,000–$7,000 total. Ask each contractor whether they plan to climb or use a crane, and why.
Permits: check before you cut
Long Island has no single tree rule. North Hempstead requires a permit for trees 6"+ in diameter, Oyster Bay for 8"+, Huntington for most medium and large trees, and Smithtown protects trees on lots that could be subdivided. Hempstead mainly regulates curbside trees. Many villages have their own laws. See tree removal permits by town.
How to vet a tree removal contractor
- License: tree work is "home improvement" in both counties. Ask for the Nassau County or Suffolk County Home Improvement license number and look it up with the county.
- Insurance: get a certificate of liability and workers' compensation insurance sent directly from the insurer. An uninsured worker hurt on your property can become your problem.
- A written, itemized quote: removal, stump, cleanup, wood, permit and lawn repair each listed.
- Red flags: cash-only door knockers after storms, large deposits, "topping" a tree instead of removing or properly pruning it, and no mention of permits in a town that requires them.
Where we cover
Tree Removal quotes are available across Nassau and Suffolk. Permit rules and common trees differ by town. Start with yours:
Frequently asked questions
How long does a tree removal take?
A small or medium tree with open access is usually a half-day job for a 3-person crew. A large tree taken down in sections over a house, or a crane job, can take a full day. Stump grinding is often done the same day or on a follow-up visit.
Is stump grinding included in the removal price?
Usually not. Most Long Island quotes list stump grinding separately ($150–$500 per stump). Ask for it as a line item so you can compare quotes fairly.
Do they haul away the wood?
Standard quotes normally include chipping branches and hauling brush. Large trunk wood is sometimes left in rounds if you want firewood. Say so up front, since leaving the wood can lower the price.
Can a tree be removed if it's over my house or pool?
Yes. Climbers take it down piece by piece, lowering each section on ropes, or a crane lifts sections over the house. Cranes cost more per hour but can finish faster and more safely on big trees.
What if the tree is on the property line?
In New York, a tree whose trunk straddles the line is generally jointly owned, so get your neighbor's written agreement before removing it. Overhanging limbs from a neighbor's tree can usually be trimmed back to the line at your cost, but you can't damage or kill the tree.
Related services
- Stump Grinding: Stumps ground 6–8 inches below grade so you can reseed, plant or pave. Usually $150–$500 a stump.
- Stump & Root Removal: Full extraction of the stump and main roots when you need to replant, build a patio or pour footings in the same spot.
- Emergency & Storm Tree Removal: A tree on the house, car, fence or driveway after a nor'easter or tropical storm, with help documenting it for insurance.
- Tree Trimming & Pruning: Limbs over the roof, deadwood, storm-prep thinning and clearance, done to keep the tree healthy rather than topping it.
- Land & Lot Clearing: Wooded building lots, pool and driveway areas, and overgrown property cleared, with stumps ground or pulled and the permit rules sorted first.
