Tree Removal Miami: $750 to $1,500 + 25% Trimming Rule

We found no Miami-specific price. The first row is Angi's Florida state range; the rest are national and labeled.

Do this now: a tree on the house or a power line

1. Stay away from any line the tree touches or has dropped. FPL says to treat all wires as energized.
2. Call FPL at 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243) right away to report a downed line; the City of Miami says if it is already reported, you do not need to report it again.
3. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, a line is down in the street, or the tree broke into the house and it may not be safe.
4. Photograph the tree and the damage first, then call your insurer. Do not sign an assignment of benefits or any contract that hands your claim to a contractor.
5. A fallen tree in the City right-of-way is the City's: call 311 or 305-468-5900.

Is it an emergency? Signs a Miami tree needs help now

A tree that leans more than it did before a storm, a palm with a cracked or bent trunk, or roots pulling up out of wet soil can fail in the next gust and needs a crew today. HomeGuide lists a sudden lean or one over 15 degrees, deep trunk cracks or cavities, and root decay or fungus as signs a tree needs removal. ISA says to stay clear of storm-damaged trees, since broken limbs under tension can move unexpectedly when cut and damaged trees may touch electrical wires. FPL says to keep yourself and your tools at least 10 feet from neighborhood power lines. A dead tree well away from the house can wait for a normal appointment and a permit. More warning signs: tree removal.

Miami tree permits: the City runs its own process

The City of Miami enforces its own tree protection ordinance, separate from Miami-Dade County's: the County's permit package lists Miami among the cities that do and tells residents to contact their city. The City's tree permit FAQ (last updated in 2015) says a permit is required before removing, relocating, root pruning or trimming more than 25% of any tree, and for trimming any tree in the City right-of-way. Its key thresholds:

• A tree, for permit purposes, is at least 12 feet tall with a 2-inch diameter at breast height; a palm is at least 16 feet tall with a 6-inch diameter.
• Specimen trees, 18 inches or more in diameter, get stricter treatment.
• Dead or hazardous trees may not require replacement, but a certified arborist report may be required.
• Hat-racking and topping are prohibited under Chapter 17.
• Questions on permits: Environmental Resources, 305-416-1551. Right-of-way trees: Public Works, 305-416-1200.

The City posts an "Intended Decision" online for private-property tree permits, with a deadline for appeals. A June 30, 2026 posting for an address on Buttonwood Lane, for example, stayed on display until July 10, 2026, and appeals had to be received by that date. If a neighbor's application worries you, that is where to look.

The Florida arborist exemption for dangerous trees

Florida s. 163.045 says a local government may not require a permit, fee or replanting to prune, trim or remove a tree on residential property when the owner has documentation from an ISA certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect that the tree poses an unacceptable risk. Mangroves are excepted. For a tree that is plainly dangerous, the arborist's letter can save the permit wait. Keep a copy.

Tree trimming in Miami before hurricane season

Tree trimming costs $400 to $900 per tree in HomeGuide's 2026 national guide, and palm trimming runs $100 to $900; Fixr's national range for most trimming is $175 to $750. We found no Miami-specific trimming price. In the City of Miami, trimming more than 25% of a tree needs a permit, and topping is banned. ISA's guidance is that no more than 25% of the crown should come off at once anyway. Branches near FPL lines are for FPL or its line-clearing crews: FPL says only specially trained line-clearing professionals should work around power lines. More on tree trimming.

Insurance after a hurricane tree in Miami

Many policies cover a tree that falls on the house or another insured structure up to policy limits, even a neighbor's tree, the Maryland Insurance Administration says; a tree that hits nothing usually gets only a limited removal payment, often $500 to $1,000. Photograph before anything is moved, call your insurer, and never sign an assignment of benefits: Florida bans them on policies issued on or after January 1, 2023.

Tree rules, programs and contacts for Miami, from official city, utility and state pages unless marked.

More Miami repair guides

Tree through the roof: roof repair in Miami. Water inside: water damage restoration in Miami. Service mast pulled down: electrician in Miami. Other cities: tree removal in Orlando and tree removal in Atlanta. National prices: tree removal cost and stump grinding. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).