Tree Removal Portland: $400 to $1,200 + 12 Inch Rule (2026)

We found no Portland or Oregon price from Angi, HomeGuide or Fixr, so cost rows are national.

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

1. Stay clear of the tree and any wire it touches. Report downed lines to PGE at 503-464-7777 or 800-544-1795, any hour, and call 911 if a wire is sparking.
2. If anyone is hurt, or the house is no longer safe (a crushed roof, a gas smell, sparking), get everyone out and call 911.
3. Call your insurer before you hire anyone, because a tree on the house may be a claim. Photograph the tree, the roof and the yard before anything is moved, and make only the repairs needed to stop more damage (Maryland Insurance Administration).
4. If there is no time to get a permit, Portland code lets the hazardous part of a tree come down first. Whoever does it must apply for a Type A tree permit within seven days, so keep photos of the danger.

Is it an emergency? Signs a Portland tree needs help today

A tree needs attention the same day when its lean passes 15 degrees or suddenly changes, the trunk has deep cracks, soil is cracking or lifting at the roots, or a broken limb hangs over the house, a driveway or a wire (HomeGuide and ISA warning signs). Same-day or next-day service often costs 2 to 3 times the standard rate, HomeGuide says, and Angi puts emergency removal as high as $5,000. A dead branch over open lawn, or a healthy tree you simply want gone, can wait for a normal booking at the lower price.

A tree that is dead, dying or dangerous still needs a permit in Portland, but it is the simpler Type A permit with no public notice. The City evaluates practical alternatives first for a dangerous tree, so an arborist's written assessment helps.

Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Portland?

Yes for most private trees 12 inches or more in diameter: Portland City Code 11.40.020 regulates them, and some overlay zones and plan districts drop the threshold to 6 inches. Section 11.40.030 lists exemptions, so confirm with Tree Permitting at 503-823-8733 or [email protected].

• Dead, dying or dangerous tree, a nuisance species, or a trunk within 10 feet of the house: Type A permit, one replacement tree for each tree removed, no public notice.
• Up to 4 healthy trees per site per year, each under 20 inches: Type A permit, tree-for-tree replacement.
• Healthy tree 20 inches or larger: Type B permit, up to inch-for-inch replacement, public notice and appeal. One healthy tree over 20 inches per lot per year in a residential zone needs no notice or appeal.
• More than 4 healthy trees 12 inches or larger in a year: Type B, inch for inch, with notice.

Street trees in Portland: the City decides

Removing a street tree in Portland takes a permit too, and the code says the City will not approve removing a healthy, working street tree absent extraordinary circumstances. A dead, dying or dangerous street tree gets a Type A permit with one replacement tree, under section 11.40.040. Ask any company you call to confirm the permit type in writing before it schedules the work.

Tree trimming in Portland: cost and limits

Tree trimming costs $400 to $900 per tree on average nationally, with a $650 average, HomeGuide reported in January 2026; Fixr's range is $175 to $750. ISA advises taking no more than 25% of the crown at once and never topping, which it says can remove 50% to 100% of the leaf-bearing crown. Prices by height: tree trimming.

Local tree rules and contacts for Portland, from official city, state and utility pages unless marked.

More Portland repair guides

Limb through the roof: roof repair in Portland. Roots in the sewer: sewer line repair in Portland. Rain coming in after a tree strike: water damage restoration in Portland. Compare tree removal in Seattle and tree removal in Sacramento. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).