Tree Removal in Spokane
December’s windstorm settled a lot of Spokane’s tree arguments the hard way. The trees that had been “probably fine” for years came down across 916 separate outage incidents — onto lines, fences, cars, and in the worst cases, homes. The removals that happen before the storm cost hundreds. The ones that happen after cost thousands, plus the roof.
What comes down in Spokane, and why
The century hardwoods. The South Hill and Browne’s Addition run on elms and maples planted in the streetcar era. They’re magnificent and they’re aging out — decay in old pruning wounds, root systems heaving sidewalks and driveways as they fight the clay, and crowns far heavier than the anchorage below them. Removing one of these over a house is crane-and-rigging work measured in hours of planning, not minutes of cutting.
Pine failures. Ponderosa is Spokane’s native tree, and stressed ponderosa is Spokane’s most common removal: drought-weakened, beetle-hit, or simply standing alone in wind it grew up sheltered from. A dead pine gets more brittle — and more expensive — every month it stands.
Storm leaners and half-failures. After a 71 mph event, “still standing” isn’t the same as “sound.” Partially uprooted trees and cracked leaders are pre-loaded failures; they go to the top of the removal list, not the bottom.
The outgrown lot. Plenty of removals aren’t dramatic — a 70-foot pine planted eight feet from a foundation in 1975, doing exactly what pines do.
What it costs
| Tree size | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small (under 30 ft) | $300 – $800 |
| Medium (30–60 ft) | $800 – $1,500 |
| Large (60 ft+) | $1,500 – $2,500+ |
Access, proximity to structures and lines, and condition move the number. South Hill removals over houses trend toward the top of the range — tight lots, big wood, no room for error. Every job gets a written price first. And if the tree is coming down anyway, grinding the stump on the same visit beats a second mobilization.
Permit check
On your own residential property: usually no permit, unless the tree is a designated heritage tree or sits in a critical area or shoreline zone. In the parking strip or right-of-way: that’s a street tree — city Urban Forestry permit required, with inspections. We’ll help you sort which is which before anything is scheduled.
Free estimate
Describe the tree and what it’s near — you’ll get a realistic range on the phone and a firm written price after a look.
Call (509) 300-4295 — Free Estimates