Who does tree work
Tree work around Palm Coast comes from a few kinds of businesses. Tree service companies take down and prune large trees using climbers, bucket trucks and sometimes cranes, and usually grind stumps and haul the wood. Some firms are led by arborists and focus on pruning, tree health and risk assessments. Landscape companies often trim small trees and palms as part of yard care. And some operators do only stump grinding.
Match the company to the job. A large oak over the roof is a different job from lifting the canopy of a young tree or cutting dead fronds off a sabal palm.
What the job involves
On a removal, someone sizes up the tree, what's under it and where the pieces can land, then decides whether to fell it whole, take it down in sections or lift it out. The wood is chipped, cut to length or hauled, and the stump is ground or left. On a trim, the cuts have to follow the ANSI A300 standard the city adopts, and the city treats topping, lion-tailing, hat-racking and over-raising the canopy as an effective removal. See tree removal and tree trimming.
The city's rules in brief
| Rule | What it says | Call |
|---|---|---|
| Removal permit | Needed for a trunk 6 inches or more at four and a half feet, or 4 inches if surveyed for credit | Building Services, (386) 986-3780 |
| Pruning | No permit, but ANSI A300 applies and over-pruning counts as removal | Building Services, (386) 986-3780 |
| Brush and logs | The city's notice says tree trimmers must haul away the waste they create | Customer Service, (386) 986-2360 |
| Digging and grinding | Sunshine 811 asks for notice two full business days ahead | 811 |
Questions to ask a contractor
- What's your full legal business name, address and phone, as they'll appear on the contract?
- Who will apply for the city permit, and is the fee in your price?
- How will the tree come down, and where will the pieces land?
- What will you do to protect the roof, the pool cage, the fence, the lawn and the irrigation?
- Will the crew call 811 before grinding the stump? How deep will you grind?
- What leaves my property: brush, logs, chips? What stays?
- For trimming: what exactly will you cut, and will the work follow the A300 standard?
- For palms: dead fronds only, and no climbing spikes?
- Can you give me references from nearby jobs?
- How much do you want before work starts, and what triggers the rest?
What the written contract should show
A written contract should name the contractor with their address and phone, list each tree by location and kind, and describe the work: removal method, any pruning cuts, stump grinding and depth, and cleanup. It should say who applies for the city permit and whether the fee is included, whether a replacement tree is part of the job, the start date, the total price, any deposit, and when the balance is due. For storm work, add what is resting where and how the crew plans to lift it.
Cautions after a storm
After a storm, offers to clear fallen trees can arrive at the door within hours. Florida's Chief Financial Officer has warned residents to beware of post-storm repair or service offers that require a cash payment, and that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. During a declared state of emergency, Florida's price gouging law, section 501.160, applies to goods and services, and suspected gouging can be reported to the Attorney General at 1-866-966-7226. For questions about an insurance claim, the state's Insurance Consumer Helpline is 1-877-693-5236.
What goes wrong when hiring
- A vague permit answer. Most trees need one. "You don't need a permit" should come with a reason that matches the city's rules.
- No written price or scope. Without it, cleanup and stump work are open to argument.
- Paying in cash, in full, up front. State officials warn against cash demands after storms.
- A trim that's really a topping. The city treats it as removing the tree.
- A log pile left at the curb. The city expects tree trimmers to haul what they cut.
Who this guide isn't for
If you're clearing a vacant lot for a new house, that's lot clearing under a building permit, a different job. If your question is about a neighbor's tree, start with your neighbor and, if it has already fallen, your insurer. If you need legal advice on a dispute, this site isn't a substitute for a lawyer.
Questions homeowners ask
Should I hire a landscaper or a tree service?
For small trees and palm fronds within reach of the ground, a landscape company may do it. For large trees, trees over the house, or anything near lines, ask a tree service. The questions above are the same either way.
Who should apply for the permit?
Either you or the contractor can. In 2026, the owner was the applicant on most of the city's tree removal permits, by our November 6 count of its permit search. Put the answer in the contract.
What should I pay up front?
Agree on it in writing, along with what triggers the balance. Be wary of cash demands, especially after a storm.
Who does the work if I use this site?
One independent local contractor. This site passes your request along and does no tree work itself.
This site passes your request to one independent local contractor. It does no tree work itself.
- City of Palm Coast help center, Tree Pruning Regulations notice and yard debris notice (September 27, 2024).
- Sunshine 811 post-storm clean-up tips, June 1, 2025.
- Florida Chief Financial Officer, storm fraud warning; Florida Statute 501.160; Attorney General price gouging hotline.