Houston, Texas
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Houston
Houston lost a very large number of trees in 2024, first to a derecho in May and then to Hurricane Beryl in July. On private residential lots the city leaves most tree decisions to the owner, so the practical questions are about safety, cost and deed restrictions.
- County
- Harris (parts in Fort Bend and Montgomery)
- Street tree permits
- City of Houston, through the Houston Permitting Center
- Key local rule
- Trees in the street right-of-way are protected. Most trees on private residential lots are not.
- Electric utility
- CenterPoint Energy
- Main hazards
- Hurricanes, derechos, drought, saturated clay
2024: a derecho, then Beryl
On May 16, 2024, a derecho crossed Houston with winds near 100 miles per hour in places. It blew out high-rise windows downtown and flattened trees from Cypress to the East End. Seven weeks later, on July 8, Hurricane Beryl came ashore near Matagorda and moved straight over the metro area.
Beryl was a Category 1 storm, yet it cut power to more than two million CenterPoint customers, largely because of trees and limbs on lines. The spring had been wet, the clay was saturated, and trees went over roots and all.
Many surviving trees were left with broken tops, torn limbs and partly lifted root plates. Those are the trees to check now. Compare what you see with the list on the storm damage page.
Does Houston require a permit to remove a tree?
For most trees on a private single-family lot, no. Houston's tree ordinance concentrates on trees in the public right-of-way and on commercial and development sites.
- Street and parkway trees
- A tree between the curb and your property line is in the city right-of-way. Removing or trimming it requires a city permit.
- Deed restrictions
- Houston has no zoning, but it has thousands of deed-restricted subdivisions. Many require HOA approval to remove a tree in the front yard or above a set size.
- Other cities
- Bellaire, West University Place, the Memorial Villages and others inside the metro area have their own, often stricter, ordinances.
Where to confirm before cutting
The Houston Permitting Center handles the tree removal and trimming permit for trees in the right-of-way. If you are unsure whether a tree is on your lot or in the right-of-way, your survey will show the property line. The line is often several feet behind the sidewalk.
For anything on your own lot, read your subdivision's deed restrictions and ask the HOA or civic club. Fines for violating deed restrictions are a private matter but are enforced.
If your address is in an incorporated enclave city or in unincorporated Harris County, check with that jurisdiction instead.
Gumbo clay and why Houston trees tip over
Most of Houston is built on dense, sticky clay that locals call gumbo. It drains slowly and holds little air, so roots concentrate in the top foot or two and spread outward instead of down.
In a dry summer the clay shrinks and cracks, breaking fine roots. In a wet spell it turns soft. A tree with a wide, shallow root plate in soft clay has very little holding it when wind loads the crown. That is the mechanism behind the uprooted oaks and pines seen across the city after Beryl.
Drought does slower damage. The 2011 drought killed millions of trees in the region, and the hot, dry summer of 2023 set off another wave of pine and oak deaths. A tree weakened by drought is more likely to fail in the next storm.
Houston's common trees and their track records
- Water oak
- Planted everywhere and fast-growing. Prone to decay and uprooting once past middle age.
- Live oak
- The best performer in wind. Needs pruning to keep heavy limbs off roofs.
- Loblolly pine
- Dominant from Memorial north to Kingwood and The Woodlands. Snaps, uproots and dies from drought and beetles.
- Pecan
- Large, brittle limbs that break in storms and on hot, still days.
- Chinese tallow
- Invasive, weak-wooded and quick to resprout. Worth removing.
- Crape myrtle and palms
- Palms were hit hard by the 2021 freeze. Dead ones should come out.
When things go wrong, month by month
| Period | Risk | What to do beforehand |
|---|---|---|
| March to May | Severe thunderstorms and derechos | Remove dead wood. Check trees damaged last year. |
| June to November | Hurricane season, peaking August to September | Have large trees near the house assessed by early summer |
| July to September | Heat and drought stress | Water valued trees deeply. Watch pines for browning. |
| December to February | Occasional hard freezes | Lowest demand. A good window for planned removals and pruning. |
Tree services for Houston properties
- Emergency tree removal in HoustonHurricane, derecho and after-hours response.
- Fallen tree removalClearing uprooted trees and their root plates.
- Dead tree removalDrought- and freeze-killed pines, oaks and palms.
- Stump removalDealing with tipped root plates and craters.
- Texas overviewRegional hazards and oak wilt guidance.
Houston tree questions
Will CenterPoint remove a tree that fell on power lines?
CenterPoint clears trees from its lines to restore power. It generally leaves the wood on site, and removing the rest is up to the owner. Never approach a tree touching a line.
Can my HOA fine me for removing a tree?
If your deed restrictions require approval and you skipped it, yes. Get written approval before removing any front-yard or large tree in a deed-restricted subdivision.
Are trees close to the foundation a problem in Houston?
They can be. Roots draw moisture from clay and can contribute to uneven settling in drought. Removal is not always the answer, since the soil may swell afterward. Ask a foundation engineer before cutting for that reason.
How long was the wait for tree service after Beryl?
Emergency work on houses was handled within days. Routine removals were booked out for weeks. Having large or damaged trees dealt with before hurricane season avoids that queue.
Reach a tree service in Houston
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Houston area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(888) 555-0142Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call or request goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own prices and schedule. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Request a callback
Leave a number and a tree service provider in your area will call you.