Tree Removal by Tree Type and Setting
The species and what stands below it decide most of the price. A tall tree over open lawn can often be felled whole; the same tree above a barrel tile roof comes down one roped section at a time.
Live oaks, mahoganies and other large shade trees
Big hardwoods are the expensive end of the job: dense wood, heavy limbs and a long climb. UF/IFAS rates live oak among the most wind-resistant trees in South Florida and mahogany just below it, so a healthy one is often worth a second opinion before it goes.
- Cost by species: HomeGuide lists oak removals at $300 to $2,500.
- Trunk size: past 24 inches across, the price climbs steeply.
- Specimen rule: a healthy trunk of 18 inches or more at chest height needs a City permit even on a home lot (see the permit section below).
Dead and dying trees
Dead wood snaps without warning, so climbers rig more and cut smaller, which is why cost guides say a dead tree often costs more than a live one of the same size. Black olive, a common yard tree here, sits in the medium-low band of UF/IFAS's wind-resistance list. Pompano Beach code also says no dead tree may remain on developed property, so waiting isn't a long-term option.
Trees over pool cages and roofs
A tree over a screen enclosure or roof gets taken apart from the top: each limb is roped, cut and lowered into a clear spot. HomeGuide notes that a tree wedged between the house and a fence costs more than one in an open backyard. When there's nowhere to lower anything, a crane lifts sections over the house; crane tree removal covers when that's worth the extra day rate. Ask for proof of insurance before anyone climbs above your roof.
Ficus and fast-growing trees too close to the house
Weeping fig lands in the lowest wind-resistance group in UF/IFAS's South Florida tables, alongside queen palm and Australian pine. Most ficus species are excluded from the City's specimen definition, so on an owner-occupied home lot a ficus removal rarely needs a permit. On other properties, a tree close enough to endanger a structure is one of the listed grounds for approval. If the roots have already lifted a slab or driveway, see tree root removal.
Small ornamental and fruit trees
Trees under 30 feet are the quick jobs, often done in a couple of hours.
- Cost: about $200 to $500 in HomeGuide's table, $150 to $450 in Angi's.
- Permit: mango, avocado and citrus never count as specimen trees, so they follow the ordinary home-lot exemption.
Why Pompano Beach homeowners call Pompano Beach Tree Care
- One independent local tree crew per request
- Price, cleanup and haul-away in writing first
- Ask for insurance proof and an ISA arborist
- Free to call; you pay the crew only for work you OK
Tree Removal Permits in Pompano Beach
The City writes its own tree rules. Broward County lists Pompano Beach among the cities with a certified tree ordinance that is enforced in place of the county's, so on private land inside the city the City's code is the one to follow.
Owner-occupied home lots
No Tree Permit is needed on a single-family or duplex lot up to an acre, as long as the lot still holds the minimum number of trees the code requires. The exemption does not cover specimen trees (18 inches or more across with a condition rating of 60% or better), historical trees of 75 years or more, or trees planted as replacements under an earlier permit.Condos, rentals and businesses
A permit comes first. Under the 2024 fee schedule, a multi-family property pays a $60 base fee and $9 per tree; a nonresidential one pays $67 and $13 per tree. Cut first and apply later, and the fee doubles.Who files and how long it takes
The City's instruction sheet lets single-family owners file their own application with an owner-builder affidavit; other properties file through a tree contractor. Processing can take up to 10 business days.What the City approves
Dead, diseased or poor-condition trees, trees endangering a structure, trees blocking sight lines, and invasive species, which must come out completely.Replacement
Each inch of trunk diameter taken out is matched by an inch of new tree caliper, and the new trees go in within 60 days of the permit being issued.Dangerous trees
For a single-family home, a signed arborist's risk assessment takes the permit, the fee and the replanting off the table; tree risk assessment explains the arborist letter.After a hurricane
The Development Services Director can suspend the rules; permits for emergency removals are due within six months and replacement trees within two years.
What Moves a Tree Removal Quote
Height sets the starting band. Two national cost guides put it like this, and Angi's Florida figures ($750 to $1,500 for a typical removal) run above its national average.
| Tree height | HomeGuide | Angi |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 ft | $200 to $500 | $150 to $450 |
| 30 to 60 ft | $500 to $1,500 | $450 to $1,200 |
| 60 to 80 ft | $850 to $2,000 | $800 to $1,500 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,200 to $2,500+ | $1,000 to $2,000 |
Height and trunk width
Past 24 inches across, expect the top of the band or more.Access
A clear drop zone is cheapest. Roofs, pool cages, fences and wires mean rigging, more crew time and sometimes a crane.Season and volume
HomeGuide sees prices 10% to 20% higher in summer and fall, and 10% to 25% off per tree when several come down in one visit.Wood and debris
Angi puts hauling at about $70 and chipping at about $95; splitting logs to keep adds $50 to $100.The stump
Most removal prices stop at ground level. Stump grinding has its own price by diameter.
See emergency tree removal if the tree is already down or hanging over the house.