Tree Removal in Knoxville, TN
Tree removal in Knoxville, TN usually starts with a tree that has become a risk: a dead or dying ash, a storm-split trunk, a tree leaning over the roof or driveway, or a Bradford pear that has started dropping limbs. This page covers which trees tend to need removing, the City and power-line rules that apply, what removal typically costs, and what happens to the stump.
Trees that often need to come down in Knoxville
- Ash. Emerald ash borer, which kills ash trees, was first found in Tennessee at a truck stop in Knox County in July 2010, according to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. An ash that is thinning in the crown or losing bark deserves a look.
- Hemlock. Hemlock woolly adelgid has been in Tennessee since 2002 and is now found in 43 counties across East Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau, per the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
- Bradford pear. UT Extension describes Callery (Bradford) pear as short-lived and prone to breakage, and notes that it spreads into dense thickets from sprouts.
- Storm damage. UT Extension notes that many trees that blow over have root failure from root rot, and that when more than 30 to 50 percent of the main branches or trunk is severely split, extensive repairs are questionable.
- Trees over the street or sidewalk. Knoxville City Code makes owners of property next to a street responsible for removing dead, diseased or dangerous trees and for keeping 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 12 feet over streets.
Knoxville tree rules
On a single- or two-family home lot, Knoxville's tree protection rules in City Code Chapter 14 do not apply, so taking down a tree on your own residential lot does not need a city tree permit. Those rules cover commercial, multifamily and subdivision land, where removing more than 25 percent of the trees on a parcel without a building permit needs the urban forester's approval.
Trees on city property or in the public right-of-way are different. Removing one needs written approval from the City's urban forester, work on or near a public tree needs a Public Tree Permit, and topping public trees is prohibited. City of Knoxville Urban Forestry, part of the Public Service Department, investigates hazardous public trees.
Trees near KUB power lines
A tree touching or leaning toward power lines is not a do-it-yourself job; KUB says that work should only be done by someone specially trained and qualified. KUB does not prune trees that interfere with the individual service line to a house, but it can lower that line temporarily so a tree service can work safely. Call KUB before any work near a line.
What tree removal costs in Knoxville
National guides price tree removal mostly by height. HomeAdvisor (June 2026) gives an average of about $750, with $150–$450 for trees up to 30 feet, $450–$1,200 for 30 to 60 feet, $800–$1,500 for 60 to 80 feet and $1,000–$2,000 above 80 feet. Fixr (January 2025) gives similar bands. Both note that stump grinding is usually priced separately.
Lean over a house or wires, the condition of the trunk, whether the tree can be felled whole or has to come down in sections, and haul-away all move the number. Our Knoxville cost page has local ranges, and a firm price follows a look at the tree. Call (865) 622-5131.
After the tree comes down
The stump is a separate decision. Grinding takes it below the lawn so you can mow, plant or sod over the spot; see stump grinding in Knoxville. Tennessee law requires a Tennessee 811 utility locate at least three working days before digging, so if the job includes grinding, the locate request goes in first.
If you keep the brush to set out yourself, City of Knoxville brush collection runs every two weeks from March through October, set out by 7 am on the Monday of your collection week in a pile no bigger than 6 by 6 by 6 feet. Knox County defines greenwaste to include logs and stumps, and its convenience centers do not accept greenwaste. Open burning is prohibited inside city limits.
How to get started
Call (865) 622-5131 with the address, the kind of tree if you know it, its rough height, and what it stands near: house, wires, fence or street. A photo of the base and one of the lean help. You get a written quote after someone has seen the tree.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Question about your yard? Call (865) 622-5131 Request a callback
How much does tree removal cost in Knoxville?
National guides average about $750, from $150 to $450 for a tree under 30 feet to $1,000 to $2,000 above 80 feet (HomeAdvisor, June 2026). Lean, access and haul-away move the price, and a firm quote follows a look at the tree. Call (865) 622-5131 or request a callback.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my property in Knoxville?
Not on a single- or two-family home lot; the City's tree protection rules exempt those. Trees on city property or in the public right-of-way need written approval from the City's urban forester. Call (865) 622-5131 or request a callback.
Who handles a tree in the public right-of-way?
Contact City of Knoxville Urban Forestry first. Work on or near a public tree needs a Public Tree Permit, and removing a tree on city property needs the urban forester's written approval. Call (865) 622-5131 or request a callback.
What about a tree near power lines?
Leave work near lines to people trained for it. KUB does not prune for the individual service line to a house, but it can lower the line temporarily so a tree service can work. Call (865) 622-5131 or request a callback.
Is stump grinding included in tree removal?
Usually not; national cost guides price it separately. See our stump grinding page for what it involves and costs. Call (865) 622-5131 or request a callback.
Should I take down a storm-damaged tree?
UT Extension's guidance is that when more than 30 to 50 percent of the main branches or trunk is severely split, extensive repairs are questionable. Someone needs to see the tree to say which side of that line it is on. Call (865) 622-5131 or request a callback.
Need a tree taken down in Knoxville?
Free on-site quote, no obligation. Call (865) 622-5131 or request a callback.