Rhode Island
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires a state license for anyone paid to work on trees, and at least one licensed arborist must be on every job site. With open bay and ocean on three sides, the state also gets more wind per square mile than its neighbors.
Rhode Island's arborist license
State law requires everyone who practices arboriculture on another person's property for pay to hold a license from the Department of Environmental Management, renewed every year. Where a crew is working, at least one licensed arborist must be present and close enough to supervise the others.
The department publishes the list of licensed arborists. Checking it is the quickest way to screen a company, and the license requires proof of insurance.
There is no statewide permit for removing a tree on a private lot. Each city and town has a tree warden responsible for public trees, and work on a street tree needs the warden's approval. Near the shore and around freshwater wetlands, the Coastal Resources Management Council or the department may need to review clearing.
A long record of wind
- The Hurricane of 1938
- Still the reference storm. It flattened forests across southern New England and put downtown Providence under water.
- Carol, 1954 and Bob, 1991
- Both stripped coastal trees and left salt-burned foliage miles inland.
- Irene, 2011 and Sandy, 2012
- Tropical storm force wind was enough to cut power to large parts of the state because of falling trees.
- Isaias, 2020
- A fast-moving storm with brief, violent gusts that snapped limbs in full leaf.
The oak die-off in the western woods
Between 2015 and 2017 spongy moth caterpillars defoliated oak forest across western and southern Rhode Island in consecutive springs, during a drought. Many oaks did not recover. State foresters estimated that a large share of the oaks in the hardest-hit areas died.
Those dead trees are still coming down along roads and in back yards. An oak dead for several years has lost most of its small branches and much of its bark, and the trunk may be sound or may be punky throughout. Only an inspection tells which.
Newer problems include beech leaf disease, found here in 2020, and emerald ash borer, confirmed in 2018. Southern pine beetle has also been trapped in the state as its range moves north.
Rhode Island trees by setting
| Setting | Common trees | Typical issue |
|---|---|---|
| Providence and older cities | Norway maple, London plane, pin oak | Sidewalk conflicts, decayed trunks, wires |
| Suburban lots | Red and black oak, white pine | Standing dead oaks, pine limb breakage |
| South County and the islands | Pitch pine, cedar, tupelo | Salt spray and wind shaping |
| Western forest towns | Oak, hickory, hemlock | Roadside dead trees, long driveways |
Deciding what to do with a storm-exposed tree
- This week
An oak has had no leaves for two summers
Remove it. Use a company with a lift, because climbing may be unsafe.
- Plan it
Leaves browned on the windward side after a coastal storm
Wait. Salt burn looks severe, and most trees leaf out normally the next spring.
- Act now
A large limb has cracked but not fallen
Keep people and cars out from under it and call.
- Plan it
The tree is in the sidewalk strip
Contact the city or town tree warden.
What shapes a Rhode Island quote
- Density
- Close-set houses in Providence, Pawtucket and Cranston leave little room to drop anything.
- Condition of the wood
- Long-dead oak needs a bucket truck or crane.
- Disposal
- Hauling large oak logs is a real cost. Keeping firewood on site reduces it.
- Coastal access
- Island and shoreline jobs can involve ferry schedules or narrow lanes.
Rhode Island tree service questions
How do I verify a Rhode Island arborist license?
Ask for the license and compare it with the Department of Environmental Management's published list of licensed arborists. A licensed person must be on site while work is done.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Rhode Island?
Not from the state for a private yard tree. Street trees need the municipal tree warden's approval, and work near the coast or wetlands may need review.
Will salt-burned trees recover?
Usually. Salt spray kills leaves but rarely buds. Judge the tree by how it leafs out the following spring before deciding on removal.
Why are there so many dead oaks along Rhode Island roads?
Most died after repeated spongy moth defoliation during the 2015 to 2017 drought. Towns, the state and utilities have been removing them in stages, starting with those over roads and lines.
Tree service in Rhode Island, by phone
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