Tree removal in Lafayette, LA
Whether the tree is dead, in the way or just too close to the house, here's how a planned removal usually goes in Lafayette Parish.
A planned removal is any job where the tree is still standing and there's time to plan it: a water oak that's grown over the roof, a pine too close to the slab, a hackberry with a rotten base, a Chinese tallow crowding the fence line, or a tree in the way of a pool or addition. The company looks at the tree, what it could hit and how equipment can get to it, then decides how it comes down.
How does a tree come down?
- Felling in one piece. Only with a clear landing zone, which is more common on rural lots than in town.
- Sectional takedown. A climber or bucket lift removes limbs and then the trunk in pieces, lowering them on ropes so they miss the roof and fence.
- Crane removal. For big trees over houses or with no safe drop zone, a crane lifts sections out. Flat Lafayette lots usually help crane access, but soft, wet ground may need mats.
Who is allowed to do it?
In Louisiana, tree removal for a fee requires an arborist license from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry's Horticulture Commission. Ask for the license number, check it against LDAF's list of licensed arborists, and ask for a current certificate of liability insurance and, if the company has employees, workers' compensation.
What should the quote include?
- Exactly which trees are coming down
- Whether brush is chipped and hauled away or left at the curb
- Whether logs are hauled, left in rounds or cut to firewood length
- Whether the stump is ground, and how deep
- How the crew will protect the lawn, driveway and any septic system from heavy equipment
- The arborist license number and proof of insurance
What affects the price?
- Height, trunk size and species, since hollow or brittle wood changes how a tree can be rigged
- How close it is to the house, power lines, fences or a neighbor's garage
- Whether a lift or crane can reach it, or it has to be climbed
- How wet the ground is, which can limit heavy equipment on clay soils
- Cleanup, log hauling and stump grinding
The tree company prices the job after it has seen the tree, what's underneath it and how a truck or lift can reach it. We don't quote prices, and any number given over the phone before a visit is a rough starting point at best.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own lot in Lafayette?
Rules depend on where you are and whether the tree is in a right-of-way or near a utility line. Check with Lafayette Consolidated Government or your town hall, and with the utility, before work near the street or wires.
Can a tree right next to the house be removed safely?
Usually, yes. Crews take close trees down in sections with ropes, a bucket lift or a crane, so the pieces are lowered instead of dropped.
Related services
More background: Lafayette tree removal guide.
Water oak on the roof, a pecan split in the storm, or a stump in the way?
Call and get connected with a Louisiana-licensed tree service that works in Lafayette Parish.