Tree Removal Seattle: $400 to $1,200 + Hazard Rules (2026)

We found no Seattle or Washington price from Angi, HomeGuide or Fixr, so cost rows are national. City review fees are extra.

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

1. Stay at least 30 feet from a downed line and call 911, as Seattle City Light advises. Report outages to City Light at (206) 684-3000.
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 the tree must come down before the city can review it, Seattle allows emergency removal, but you must notify SDCI first and submit an application within 10 calendar days.

Is it an emergency? Signs a Seattle 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.

For a high-risk tree that is not an emergency, Seattle's hazard process applies: an ISA Basic Tree Risk Assessment by a certified arborist with TRAQ qualification, photos, and an application submitted by a registered tree service provider. SDCI considers pruning before it approves removal and aims to finish the first review within two weeks.

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

Usually yes: with no development planned, removing a Tier 1, 2, 3 or 4 tree is generally prohibited in all zones unless an exemption or allowance in SDCI Tip 242B applies. The tiers, measured 4.5 feet above the ground:

Source: SDCI Tip 242B, updated October 1, 2025. Dead trees need photos and no replacement.

Approved removals of Tier 1 to 3 trees for hazard, emergency, pests or invasive species require replacement trees from the Green Factor list or a payment in lieu. A dead tree needs only photos. Most removals also need online public notice six full business days before the work, and a printed notice on site during the work and for five days after. Street trees in the right of way need SDOT approval instead.

Seattle's registered tree service rule

Paid tree work in Seattle must be done by a registered tree service provider, SDCI says, even for a hazardous or emergency removal. That includes removing any Tier 1 to 4 tree for pay and reportable work: cutting live branches 4 inches or more across, live roots 2 inches or more, or 25% or more of the foliage. Look the company up in SDCI's Tree Service Provider Directory before you sign, and ask for proof of insurance.

Tree trimming in Seattle: 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 removing no more than 25% of the crown at once, and in Seattle cutting 25% or more of the foliage is reportable work that only a registered provider may do. Never let anyone top a tree. Prices by height: tree trimming.

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

More Seattle repair guides

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