Maine
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Maine
Maine is the most forested state in the country, and it licenses the people who work on its trees. If your property is near a lake, river or the coast, shoreland zoning also limits what can be cut, so the first step is knowing how far the tree stands from the water.
Can I cut trees near the water in Maine?
Only within limits. Maine's Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act applies to land within 250 feet of great ponds, rivers, tidal waters and many wetlands, and each town enforces it through a local ordinance.
- The buffer strip
- Closest to the water, generally the first 100 feet on a great pond and 75 feet elsewhere, a point system requires a well-distributed stand of trees to remain.
- The rest of the zone
- Selective cutting is allowed, typically capped at 40 percent of tree volume in any ten-year period.
- Dead and hazard trees
- May be removed, but replanting can be required, and the code enforcement officer should be consulted first.
Maine's arborist license
Maine requires a license for anyone who is paid to do arborist work: pruning, removing, diagnosing or treating shade and ornamental trees. The program is run by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and license holders must pass an exam and show proof of insurance.
Licenses are issued in categories, so a person approved for landscape and utility work may differ from one approved for general tree care. Ask for the license number and check that it is current.
Shoreland violations are enforced by the town, and penalties apply to the landowner as well as the contractor. A tree company that works regularly on lakefront lots will know the local ordinance and will usually speak with the code enforcement officer before cutting.
Storms Maine tree crews still talk about
| Storm | What happened | Typical tree damage |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm of January 1998 | Days of freezing rain across central and southern Maine | Birch bent to the ground, hardwood crowns stripped, pines snapped |
| October 30, 2017 windstorm | Gusts near 70 mph on soaked ground with leaves still on | Whole trees uprooted. More outages than the 1998 storm. |
| December 18, 2023 | Wind and heavy rain on unfrozen ground | Shallow-rooted pines and spruce tipped across roads statewide |
Unfrozen, saturated soil is the common thread in the two wind events. Trees that stand through a January gale can go over in the same wind in October.
Browntail moth and why crews gear up
Browntail moth caterpillars feed on oak, apple, cherry and shadbush along the coast and well inland. The caterpillars carry tiny barbed hairs that cause a rash like poison ivy and can trigger breathing trouble. The hairs stay toxic for up to three years in leaf litter, bark and old nests.
That changes tree work. Crews cutting infested oaks wear respirators and coveralls, wet down brush where practical and prefer to schedule the job in cool, damp weather. Winter is the time to clip overwintering webs from branch tips within reach.
Maine also has emerald ash borer, first found in 2018, hemlock woolly adelgid along the southern coast, and periodic spruce budworm in the north. Each affects which trees are worth keeping.
Maine trees and what they do in storms
- Eastern white pine
- The state tree and the tallest in most yards. Tops and limbs break under ice and wet snow.
- Red spruce and balsam fir
- Shallow roots over ledge. Fir is short-lived and decays at the base.
- Paper and gray birch
- Bend under ice and often do not recover.
- Red oak
- Strong, but a host for browntail moth and repeatedly defoliated in some areas.
- Red maple
- Common on wet ground, with weak forks.
Planning a removal on a Maine lakefront lot
Measure the distance to the high-water line
This decides which shoreland rules apply.
Call the town code enforcement officer
Describe the tree and why it should come out. Many towns want to see a hazard tree before it is cut.
Hire a licensed arborist
Get the removal and any required replanting in one written scope.
Leave the stump and roots near the water
Shoreland rules generally require them to stay so the bank does not erode.
Maine tree service questions
Is an arborist license required in Maine?
Yes for paid arborist work on shade and ornamental trees. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry issues it. Confirm the license and insurance before work starts.
Can I remove a dead pine in the shoreland zone?
In most cases, yes. Talk to the code enforcement officer first, because the town may want to confirm the hazard and may require a replacement tree if the removal opens a gap in the buffer.
Is it safe to burn or chip wood with browntail moth nests?
Handle it with care. The hairs become airborne when brush is chipped or disturbed. Professionals use protective gear and avoid dry, windy days. Do not burn nests in the open where smoke can carry hairs.
When is the easiest season for tree removal in Maine?
Winter, when the ground is frozen and equipment can cross lawns and wet areas without damage. Spring mud season is the hardest, and some towns post roads against heavy trucks.
Tree service in Maine, by phone
Call to be connected with an independent tree company serving your part of Maine, or leave your number for a callback.
(888) 555-0142Call availability varies by area and time of day
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