Tree Removal in Palm Beach County: Permits, Costs, Hurricane Risk and Curb Appeal

The cost to remove a tree in Palm Beach County depends on three things: how big the tree is, how hard it is to reach, and what your city or the county requires before you cut. Stump grinding and permit fees can add to the bill. This guide covers typical price ranges, when local permits apply, which species tend to fail in hurricanes, and how mature trees affect curb appeal when you sell. It also explains a Florida law that can let you skip local permits for a dangerous tree.

Key takeaways

• Lawn Love's 2026 cost guide puts the national average for tree removal at $850, with a typical range of $385 to $1,070. Stump removal is usually a separate charge.
• Florida law bars local governments from requiring a permit, fee or replanting to remove a tree from a single-family home's lot when an ISA certified arborist or licensed landscape architect documents that it poses an unacceptable risk.
• Rules differ by city. Palm Beach Gardens says single-family lots are exempt from its tree removal permit, while Wellington charges a $75 fee and asks for a replacement plan.
• UF/IFAS lists queen palms, Washington fan palms, Australian pines and weeping figs among the least wind-resistant trees in South Florida.
• Healthy shade trees can help curb appeal. Dead, leaning or overgrown trees can raise red flags for buyers and insurers.

What is the typical cost to remove a tree?

Prices vary a lot from one job to the next. Even so, national cost guides give a useful starting point. Lawn Love's 2026 guide lists a national average of $850, with most jobs between $385 and $1,070. It breaks the price down by height:

• Small trees, up to 30 feet: about $285 to $435.
• Medium trees, 30 to 60 feet: about $435 to $870.
• Large trees, 60 to 80 feet: about $870 to $1,160.
• Extra-large trees, over 80 feet: about $1,160 to $2,000.

These are national figures, not Palm Beach County quotes. Local prices can run higher or lower, and they jump after a storm, when crews are busy. So treat them as a rough guide and get written quotes from local companies.

What adds to the cost to remove a tree

Several things push a price up. For example, a tree that leans over a roof, a pool cage or power lines takes more rigging and more care. Likewise, a backyard with no truck access means the crew has to carry or crane every piece out. Other cost drivers include:

• Trunk diameter and the spread of the canopy.
• Dead or storm-damaged wood, which can be less predictable to cut.
• Hauling away the wood and debris.
• Permit fees and the cost of an arborist report, if needed.
• Replacement trees, when a city requires them.

Stump grinding: the cost to remove a tree stump

Most quotes cover cutting the tree down to the ground. The stump is usually extra. According to Lawn Love, stump grinding typically costs $120 to $210 on average. Small stumps can cost far less, while very large ones can approach $400. Many companies also charge a minimum fee of about $100. If you plan to replant or lay sod in the same spot, ask for grinding and debris removal in the same quote.

Permits and the cost to remove a tree in Palm Beach County

Permit rules are the part most homeowners miss. Palm Beach County has dozens of cities, towns and villages plus large unincorporated areas, and each can set its own rules. So start by finding out who governs your address. The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's record shows whether a parcel is inside a city.

The Florida law on dangerous trees

State law gives homeowners an important exception. Under section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes, a local government may not require a notice, application, approval, permit, fee or mitigation to prune, trim or remove a tree on residential property if the owner has documentation that the tree poses an unacceptable risk. The documentation must come from an onsite assessment by an ISA certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect. The law also bars local governments from making you replant that tree.

There are limits, though. The law covers single-family, detached homes used as residences. It also does not apply to mangroves, which have their own state rules. And it only helps when a professional actually finds the tree dangerous. A healthy tree you simply dislike still falls under local rules.

Unincorporated Palm Beach County

In unincorporated areas, the county's zoning landscape FAQ says single-family developments must have a permit to remove perimeter buffer and common area trees. In other words, trees in a community's buffers and common areas are protected. The county also encourages single-family lot owners to remove only the trees they need to for a building project. For anything unclear, the county's landscape section can answer questions before you cut.

The county also lists invasive species that must be removed before development. These include Australian pine, Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, earleaf acacia, schefflera and carrotwood.

City rules: two examples

City rules vary widely. Here are two examples from cities we serve:

• Palm Beach Gardens: The city says a tree removal permit is required, except on fee-simple, single-family, attached or detached, or duplex lots. Pruning must still follow the city's pruning code.
• Wellington: The village's tree removal application lists a $75 fee for single-family homes and small multifamily properties. You must tag the trees, submit a drawing that shows which trees stay and go, and provide a replacement plan.

Also check your HOA. Many communities have their own landscape rules, and some require approval before you remove any tree. Breaking those rules can lead to fines, even when the city has no objection.

The Acreage and Loxahatchee boundaries

Out west, names can be confusing. The Acreage is an unincorporated community, so county rules apply there. Its roads and drainage fall under the Indian Trail Improvement District. However, many Acreage homes use a Loxahatchee mailing address. Meanwhile, the Town of Loxahatchee Groves is a separate municipality, incorporated in 2006, with its own codes. So a "Loxahatchee" address could fall under either set of rules. Check the property record before you hire a crew.

Hurricane risk: when the cost to remove a tree is worth paying

Storm season is the biggest reason local owners remove trees. UF/IFAS researchers studied how South Florida trees held up in hurricanes. In their guide to tropical and subtropical species, the least wind-resistant group includes:

• Australian pine
• Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
• Jacaranda
• Melaleuca
• African tuliptree
• Sand pine
• Queen palm and Washington fan palm

On the other hand, the most wind-resistant group includes gumbo limbo, live oak, sand live oak, buttonwood, southern magnolia, lignum vitae and sabal palm, Florida's state tree.

A risky species is not an automatic reason to cut. Location matters more. A queen palm in the middle of the yard is less of a threat than a large tree leaning toward your bedroom. UF/IFAS advises planting larger trees away from the house and power lines. It also notes that thinning the crown and removing weak or dead limbs can reduce how much a tree moves in high winds. For large or high branches, it recommends hiring a certified arborist.

Trees also tie into insurance. A falling tree can damage a roof, and an insurer may ask about limbs that hang over the house. Our guide to Florida hurricane insurance explains how windstorm coverage and deductibles work.

Curb appeal: when keeping a tree is worth more

Before you pay the cost to remove a tree, think about what it adds. A healthy shade tree cools the yard, frames the house and makes a street feel established. Many buyers like mature landscaping, and it is hard to replace quickly.

That said, some trees hurt a sale. Buyers and inspectors notice these problems:

• Dead or dying trees, or large dead limbs.
• Branches touching or hanging over the roof.
• Roots lifting the driveway, walkway or pool deck.
• Trees so dense that they hide the house from the street.
• Invasive species that clearly need to go.

Often, pruning solves the problem for less money than removal. A professional trim can open up views of the house, clear the roof and keep the shade. Our guide to Florida friendly landscaping covers low-maintenance plants that look good in listing photos.

How to plan tree removal before you sell

If you plan to list in the next year, deal with trees early. That way, you avoid a rushed job or a buyer request during the inspection period. Here is a simple plan:

1. Walk the yard and note any dead, leaning or overhanging trees.
2. Confirm whether your home is in a city or unincorporated area, and check HOA rules.
3. Get an arborist's opinion on any tree you think is dangerous.
4. Collect at least two written quotes that list cleanup, hauling and stump grinding.
5. Ask the company for proof of insurance before work starts.
6. Keep receipts and permits to share with buyers.

Finally, schedule the work outside of peak storm season if you can. Prices and wait times often climb after a hurricane, when every crew in the county is booked.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to remove a tree in Florida?

National guides give a starting point. Lawn Love's 2026 guide lists an average of $850, with most jobs between $385 and $1,070. Large or hard-to-reach trees cost more, and stump grinding is usually extra.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Palm Beach County?

It depends on where you live. Rules differ between unincorporated county land and each city, and HOAs can add their own. However, state law lets owners of single-family homes skip local permits for a tree that an arborist or licensed landscape architect documents as an unacceptable risk.

Which trees are most dangerous in a hurricane?

UF/IFAS research lists Australian pine, weeping fig, jacaranda, melaleuca, African tuliptree, sand pine, queen palm and Washington fan palm among the least wind-resistant species in South Florida.

Does removing a tree lower my home value?

Removing a healthy shade tree can reduce curb appeal. On the other hand, removing a dead, leaning or invasive tree often helps. Pruning is a good middle option in many cases.

Sources

• Lawn Love, tree removal cost (2026)
• Lawn Love, stump grinding cost (2026)
• Florida Statutes, s. 163.045
• Palm Beach County, zoning landscape FAQ
• City of Palm Beach Gardens, tree removal permit FAQ
• Village of Wellington, tree and vegetation removal application
• UF/IFAS, selecting tropical and subtropical tree species for wind resistance
• UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, hurricane landscaping
• Historical Society of Palm Beach County, The Acreage and the Indian Trail district
• Historical Society of Palm Beach County, Loxahatchee Groves (2006 incorporation)

Getting your yard ready to sell? Before you spend on landscaping, get a free Pure Equity home value report and ask our agents which fixes buyers will notice. Buying instead? We can help you spot tree and drainage issues on the homes you tour. Talk with our team.