Nashville, Tennessee
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Nashville
Nashville's trees grow in thin soil over limestone and face tornadoes and straight-line wind in spring and again in late fall. Metro does not require a removal permit for single-family or duplex homes, so most decisions rest with the owner.
- County
- Davidson (Metro Nashville)
- Tree rules
- Metro Codes and the Urban Forester, for non-residential and development sites
- Key local rule
- Removal permit does not apply to single-family and two-family residences
- Electric utility
- Nashville Electric Service (NES)
- Main hazards
- Tornadoes, derechos, ice, shallow rooting over limestone
2020: a tornado in March, a derecho in May
Shortly after midnight on March 3, 2020, a tornado crossed Nashville from the west side through Germantown, East Nashville and Donelson. Whole blocks of mature canopy in Five Points and Lockeland Springs were gone by morning.
Exactly two months later, on May 3, a derecho swept the county with winds of 60 to 80 miles per hour. NES reported the largest outage in its history, about 130,000 customers, nearly all from trees and limbs on lines.
A tornado on December 9, 2023 hit Madison and Hendersonville, a reminder that the fall severe season here is real. Trees at the edges of these paths, twisted but left standing, are still failing.
Thin soil over limestone
Dig almost anywhere in Davidson County and you reach limestone quickly. In places it lies only a foot or two below the lawn.
Roots cannot enter solid rock, so trees here form wide, pancake-flat root systems. When several days of rain soften the thin soil and a squall line arrives, entire trees tip over with a root plate the shape of a dinner plate.
Rock affects the work as well. Stump grinders hit ledge, stump excavation can be limited, and replanting holes are hard to dig. Mention shallow rock to the company if you know it is there.
Why the hackberry gets blamed, and other local trees
- Hackberry
- Everywhere in Nashville, because it tolerates limestone soil and neglect. Also the city's most frequent source of fallen limbs, split trunks and hidden decay.
- Silver maple
- Planted along older streets. Brittle, often hollow.
- Ash
- Dying across the county from emerald ash borer. Dead ash is brittle and hazardous to climb.
- Tulip poplar
- Very tall. Upper limbs break in wind.
- Eastern redcedar
- Native to the cedar glades. Splits under ice.
- Oaks and sugar maple
- The durable long-term canopy, mostly lost to construction damage, not storms.
Nashville tree rules for residents
Metro Nashville's tree removal permit requirement does not apply to single-family or two-family residences. A homeowner can generally remove a tree on their own lot without Metro approval.
Exceptions exist. Trees in the public right-of-way are Metro's. Properties in historic or conservation overlay districts can face additional review. And trees that were required by an approved site or subdivision plan may need to be maintained.
Belle Meade, Forest Hills, Oak Hill and Berry Hill are satellite cities inside Davidson County with their own tree ordinances, some of them strict. Confirm which government covers your address.
After a storm passes near you
- Act now
A tree is on the house or blocking the driveway
Call for emergency removal and photograph everything for the insurer.
- Act now
A tree is leaning with soil raised on one side
Treat it as failing. Keep clear and have it removed.
- This week
Limbs are hanging or cracked overhead
Have them brought down before anyone works or parks beneath.
- This week
A tree near the path looks intact but twisted
Book an inspection. Lengthwise cracks from torsion are hard to see from the ground.
- Plan it
Debris only
Check Metro's storm debris pickup announcements before paying to haul.
Neighborhood patterns
| Area | Canopy | Common jobs |
|---|---|---|
| East Nashville, Inglewood | Older hackberry, maple, ash. Canopy gaps from 2020. | Storm-damaged tree removal, replanting clearances |
| Sylvan Park, the Nations | Mature yard trees amid heavy infill construction | Removal of construction-damaged trees, tight-access rigging |
| Green Hills, West Meade | Large oaks and poplars on bigger, hillier lots | Large tree removal, risk assessments |
| Donelson, Hermitage, Madison | Mixed mid-century canopy near recent tornado paths | Dead ash removal, cleanup of storm-weakened trees |
Services Nashville owners use
Nashville tree questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree at my Nashville home?
Generally no. Metro's permit requirement does not apply to single-family or duplex residences. Check for a historic overlay, and remember that street trees and satellite cities such as Belle Meade follow different rules.
Should I remove my hackberry?
Not automatically. Many are sound. Have one inspected if it has large dead limbs, a cavity, tight forked stems or mushrooms at the base, since hackberries hide decay well.
Will NES remove a tree near its lines?
NES trims trees for line clearance and clears trees from lines during outages. It does not remove trees for owners or haul storm debris from private property.
Does Metro pick up storm debris?
After significant storms Metro has run curbside brush collection in affected areas. Programs are announced event by event, with rules on size and placement.
Reach a tree service in Nashville
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(888) 555-0142Call availability varies by area and time of day
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