Answers first, details on the linked pages
The most common question people search is whether a tree can be removed for free. The honest answer is: sometimes, and it depends on who owns the tree and what it hit.
The questions below run from the line itself to money, permits, storms, power lines and credentials. Each answer is short and points to a page that goes deeper. Nothing here replaces a look at your tree by a company that can see it; only that company can tell you what the job needs and what it costs.
Questions by topic
The same questions, grouped by what you need to sort out, with the page that answers each in full.
The free line
Is it free? Who answers? What if nobody picks up? Read how it works, about the line and contact.
Cost and hiring
What removal and trimming cost, how to find an affordable company and what to ask a small, owner-run business. Read the removal cost and trimming cost guides.
Permits and city trees
When the City of Houston needs a permit and who handles trees on the right of way. Read the permit guide.
Storms and insurance
A tree on the house, a neighbor's tree, and getting ready before June 1. Read emergency removal, who pays and hurricane prep.
Power lines and debris
What CenterPoint trims, and what the city picks up at the curb. Read tree trimming and debris removal.
Credentials and timing
Texas licensing, insurance certificates, ISA lookups and oak wilt season. Read arborist assessment and when to trim.
More answers
The questions people ask most are in the common questions block below. These cover the rest, from what happens on the call to storms, power lines and city pickup.
Who answers, and what will I be asked?
An automated assistant answers, 24 hours a day. It asks what kind of tree work you need, then takes your name, callback number, city or ZIP and a description of what the tree is doing. It then transfers you to an independent, locally owned company that hears a short summary first. See how it works.
What if the company does not answer my call?
Your details are passed to that company so it can call you back. If the situation cannot wait, such as a tree on a power line or someone hurt, call 911, and report downed lines to CenterPoint Energy at 713-207-2222.
How do I find an affordable tree service in Houston without getting burned?
Get the price in writing, with cleanup, hauling and the stump listed, and compare more than one quote for big jobs. The Texas Department of Insurance warns against signing on the spot with door-to-door contractors after storms and against paying a large amount up front. A low price only helps if the company can show you current insurance.
Where can I read reviews of affordable tree services in Houston?
This site does not publish reviews or rate companies. Before you hire anyone, ask the company for references from jobs like yours, ask its agent for a certificate of insurance, and look up its arborist's certification at the ISA credential lookup.
Is it safe to hire a small, owner-run tree service?
Size is not the issue. Paperwork is. A one-truck business run by its owner and a large company should both be able to send a certificate of general liability insurance, show workers' compensation coverage for anyone working on your property, and give you a written quote.
Who takes care of the tree between the sidewalk and the street?
If it sits on the city's street right of way, the City of Houston is responsible for it. Urban Forestry trims those trees for height clearance and removes dead or hazardous ones; call 311 to report a problem. Do not hire anyone to remove a city tree without the city's permit.
A tree fell on my house. What do I do first?
Get everyone out of the damaged part of the house and keep people back. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or a line is down, and stay at least 35 feet from any downed wire, as CenterPoint Energy advises. Then photograph the damage before anything is moved and call your insurer. The emergency tree removal page covers the next steps.
My neighbor's tree fell on my house. Who pays?
Usually your own policy. The Texas Department of Insurance explains that a neighbor is not responsible for an act of nature, so the neighbor's policy probably will not pay unless the neighbor was at fault, for example by ignoring an obviously dead tree. In that case your insurer may try to recover its costs from the neighbor.
When is hurricane season, and when should I get trees looked at?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, according to the National Hurricane Center. Having trees near the house checked before June gives a company time to remove dead wood and weak limbs. See hurricane season tree prep.
Will CenterPoint trim a tree that is growing into my power lines?
You can ask. CenterPoint Energy takes tree trimming requests at 713-207-2222 or 800-332-7143, sends someone to look, and says it does not charge for typical trimming on existing electrical facilities. It also asks residents not to cut trees near lines themselves, and tree workers must coordinate with it before working near a line.
Will the City of Houston pick up tree limbs at the curb?
The city's published Tree Waste rules call for collection from city-served homes in odd-numbered months, up to eight cubic yards per collection; call 311 to confirm your current schedule. The rules also say the city does not collect tree waste left by contractors, so if you hire a company, its quote should include hauling. After big storms the city has run separate storm debris pickups. See tree debris removal.
How do I check a tree company's insurance?
Ask the company to have its insurance agent send you a certificate of general liability insurance, and ask about workers' compensation for its workers. Read the dates and the coverage, and call the insurer listed if anything looks off. The arborist assessment page explains credentials in more detail.
When is the best time to trim oak trees in Houston?
Texas A&M Forest Service advises not pruning or wounding oaks from February through June, when the beetles that spread oak wilt are active, and painting every oak wound at any time of year. Summer heat and winter cold are the better windows. See when to trim trees in Houston.
Free tree removal in Houston: who usually pays
| Situation | Who usually handles it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dead or hazardous tree on the city street right of way | City of Houston Urban Forestry | Report it to 311 |
| Tree growing into CenterPoint lines | CenterPoint Energy trims around its lines | Request trimming at 713-207-2222 |
| Storm drops a tree on your house or across the driveway | Often your homeowners policy, within its limits | Photograph it, then call your insurer |
| Neighbor's healthy tree falls in a storm | Usually your own policy | File with your insurer |
| Tree on your lot that has not damaged anything | You, the property owner | Get a written quote from a company |
This is a general picture drawn from the City of Houston, CenterPoint Energy and the Texas Department of Insurance. Policies and situations differ, so confirm with your insurer and the city before counting on anyone else to pay.
Check the company yourself. Texas has no state license for tree trimming or tree removal, so a business card proves very little. Ask the company for a certificate of general liability insurance sent by its insurance agent, proof of workers' compensation coverage, and the ISA certification number of its arborist. A company that sprays or injects trees for hire needs a pesticide license from the Texas Department of Agriculture or its Structural Pest Control Service. You can confirm a certification with the ISA's credential lookup (opens in a new tab).
How this line works: Tree Service Houston TX is a free phone line, not a tree service company. It does not trim, remove, quote or schedule tree work and holds no license or arborist certification. Calls are transferred to independent, locally owned tree service companies in the Houston area. Those companies may pay Tree Service Houston TX a referral fee. You never pay the line. How it works.
Guides for Houston homeowners
Tree Trimming Cost in Houston
What tree trimming usually costs, the published price ranges, and the details that move a Houston quote up or down.
Tree Removal Cost in Houston
What drives the price of taking a tree down: height, access, lines, cleanup, stump grinding and emergency work.
Houston Tree Removal Permits and Rules
When the City of Houston needs a permit, who owns the tree by the street, and the Texas law on tree mitigation fees.
Will the City Remove a Tree? Who Pays
City trees, CenterPoint lines, a neighbor's tree and homeowners insurance: who usually removes and pays for what in Houston.
When to Trim Trees in Houston
The best months to trim oaks and other Houston trees, oak wilt timing, and what proper trimming looks like.
Hurricane Season Tree Prep
What to check in your trees before June 1, which trees tend to fail in Gulf Coast storms, and what to do when a storm is coming.