Tree Removal Sacramento: $400 to $1,200 + Oak Rules (2026)

We found no Sacramento-only price. National and California rows are labeled.

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

1. Stay away from the tree and any wire it touches. SMUD says to call 911 first for a sparking or downed line, then SMUD at 1-888-456-7683.
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. Do not climb onto the roof or cut a bent limb yourself. ISA warns that broken limbs and uprooted trees under tension can move unexpectedly when cut.

Is it an emergency? Signs a Sacramento 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.

Sacramento's urban forestry page says approved permits are required before regulated work on a protected tree. If a protected tree is an immediate danger, contact the Urban Forestry office before the crew cuts, and keep photos.

Private Protected Trees in Sacramento

A Private Protected Tree in Sacramento is any tree at 32 inches in diameter on a lot with an existing single-family home or duplex, or a native tree at 12 inches, under City Tree Code Chapter 12.56. Diameter is measured at standard height (DSH). The native species are coast, interior, valley and blue oaks, California sycamore and buckeye. On undeveloped land and on commercial, industrial and apartment sites, the threshold for all trees is 24 inches. The category includes trees formerly called Heritage Trees.

A permit is required before regulated work on a Private Protected Tree, and applications are generally processed within 10 business days. Download the Tree Permit Application from the Urban Forestry page and submit it to the Urban Forestry office. For work on private trees, the City recommends a tree care professional with ISA certification, proof of insurance, references and three competitive bids.

City trees in park strips and alleys

City trees in Sacramento include any tree partly or fully in the public right of way, which covers streets, sidewalks, park strips, mow strips and alleys, as well as City parks and property. Regulated work on a City tree needs an approved permit first, and the City performs regulated work only on City trees. A tree in the strip between the sidewalk and the curb is the usual case, so ask Urban Forestry before you hire anyone for it.

Tree trimming in Sacramento: cost and timing

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, and HomeGuide's oak trimming range is $450 to $1,500. ISA says growth and wound closure are best when pruning happens before the spring flush, and no more than 25% of the crown should come off at once. The City's page does not define regulated work, so ask Urban Forestry before heavy pruning on a protected tree. Prices by height: tree trimming.

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

More Sacramento repair guides

Limb through the roof: roof repair in Sacramento. Roots in the sewer: sewer line repair in Sacramento and plumbers in Sacramento. Service line pulled down: electrician in Sacramento. Compare tree removal in Los Angeles and tree removal in Portland. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).