Lafayette, LA Tree Removal Guide: Licenses & Storms (2026)

Updated October 24, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Arborist license	Required for anyone who works on trees for a fee: removal, pruning, trimming, cabling, fertilization, cavity work	LDAF Horticulture Commission; La. R.S. 3:3808
License requirements	State exam passed at 70% or higher; proof of general liability and, if applicable, workers' comp insurance	LDAF
Owner-directed exception	No license needed to prune branches 2 inches or less, within 10 feet of the ground, under the owner's direction; not for commercial sites	La. R.S. 3:3816
Emergency licenses	After a declared emergency, temporary 90-day licenses for holders of another state's license or ISA certification	La. R.S. 3:3816
Power lines	No unauthorized work within 10 feet of an overhead high-voltage line; 48 hours' notice to the utility	La. R.S. 45:142, 45:143; LUS
Digging and grinding	Notify 811 at least 48 hours ahead, excluding weekends and holidays	La. R.S. 40:1749.13
Rainfall	About 62.8 inches a year at Lafayette Regional Airport (1991 to 2020 normals)	NOAA normals via Wikipedia

Who can legally do tree work in Louisiana?

Louisiana licenses tree work directly, which most states don't. Under La. R.S. 3:3808, anyone who presents themselves as an arborist must hold a license, and the license covers recommending or doing the removal of a tree or part of a tree and work to prolong a tree's life. The Department of Agriculture and Forestry's Horticulture Commission puts it plainly: arborist licenses are required if you work on trees for a fee. That includes removal, pruning, trimming, cabling, fertilization and cavity work. A separate utility arborist license covers removing trees along utility rights-of-way.

To be licensed, an applicant passes an exam based on the International Society of Arboriculture's certification study guide with a score of 70 percent or higher, and shows proof of current general liability insurance and, if applicable, workers' compensation. Renewals require continuing training and proof of insurance. LDAF publishes lists of licensed arborists and licensed utility arborists that you can check a company against.

The LSU AgCenter adds a few practical points. A license from another state, such as Texas, Arkansas or Mississippi, doesn't allow someone to do routine tree work in Louisiana. Clearing fallen debris from a house, driveway or lawn isn't treated as routine tree work, but if the tree or limb is still attached to a standing tree, the license applies. Unlicensed people can't legally advertise or collect fees for this work, license holders must show their license number on advertising vehicles, and the property owner is responsible for checking licenses and insurance before hiring.

Are there exceptions?

A few. La. R.S. 3:3816 lets a person prune under the owner's specific direction without a license if the branch is two inches or less in diameter and within ten feet of the ground, but that exception doesn't cover commercial establishments. After a catastrophe and an emergency declaration, the commissioner may issue a temporary arborist license, good for 90 days, to someone who holds another state's license by exam or ISA certification, shows proof of insurance and applies within 90 days of the declaration.

Which trees fail most in Acadiana storms?

The LSU AgCenter's hurricane guidance, based on University of Florida surveys of more than 18,000 trees after Gulf hurricanes, rates live oak, bald cypress, southern magnolia, sweetgum, American holly and crape myrtle among the species with the highest survival. Trees with the lowest wind resistance include water oak, laurel oak, pecan, Chinese tallow, Bradford pear, Leyland cypress and southern red oak. The AgCenter lists shallow roots in saturated soil, large old trees, tall trees and trees growing alone as the main risk factors, and says to hire a Louisiana-licensed or ISA-certified arborist to check trees for decay and weakness.

What do Formosan termites do to trees?

LSU AgCenter publication 3092 says Formosan subterranean termites can attack almost any live tree and can eat through it until it can no longer support itself and falls. A nest in a tree can hold millions of termites that can also damage nearby wooden structures. Signs include shelter tubes on the trunk, termites in the soil between the root flares, and swarm castles at limb or pruning scars during spring swarming. The publication recommends treatment by a licensed pest control operator or a state-licensed arborist.

What rules apply near power lines?

La. R.S. 45:142 bars unauthorized people from working, or moving equipment, within ten feet of a high-voltage overhead line. Under La. R.S. 45:143, the person responsible for the work must notify the utility at least 48 hours before starting and work out safety arrangements with it. LUS asks people to notify it before working within ten feet of its lines, keeps trees trimmed back from its main lines with a contract crew, and advises against planting under a primary line.

Do I need to call 811 before stump grinding?

Louisiana's dig law, La. R.S. 40:1749.13, requires notice to the regional notification center at least 48 hours before excavation, not counting weekends and holidays. Utilities then mark their lines. Stump and root grinding go below grade, so ask whether the tree company will make that call.

What should I do with storm debris?

After a 2024 storm, Lafayette Consolidated Government asked residents to separate yard waste such as limbs, branches and cut logs from other debris, keep piles at least three feet from hydrants and mailboxes, and keep them out from under power lines, away from gas meters and out of drainage ditches. Call 311 for the current pickup schedule.

Questions to ask a tree service

What's your Louisiana arborist license number, and can I see a current certificate of insurance?
Could the tree be pruned or treated instead of removed?
How will it come down, and how will you protect the house, lawn and septic area?
Are cleanup, log hauling and stump grinding included?
Will you call 811 before grinding, and notify the utility if you'll be near a line?

Common questions

Do tree trimmers need a license in Louisiana?

Yes. LDAF's Horticulture Commission requires an arborist license for anyone who works on trees for a fee, including pruning and trimming, with a narrow exception for small low branches pruned at the owner's direction.

Is an out-of-state tree license valid in Louisiana?

Not for routine work, according to the LSU AgCenter. After a declared emergency, LDAF can issue temporary 90-day licenses to qualified out-of-state arborists.

How much notice does 811 need in Louisiana?

At least 48 hours before digging, excluding weekends and holidays, under La. R.S. 40:1749.13.

Lafayette, Louisiana tree removal guide (2026)