Downed power line, fire, gas smell or someone hurt? Call 911 first and stay at least 35 feet from any wire.
Chicago · Emergency
Emergency Tree Removal in Chicago
In Chicago the right first call depends on where the tree came from and what it landed on. Calling the wrong number wastes hours. This page sorts it out.
Call availability varies by area and time of day. Calls are answered by an independent tree service provider.
Who to call first
- Act now
Someone is hurt or trapped, wires are down or sparking, or a tree blocks a street
Call 911.
- Act now
A parkway tree fell on your house, car or fence
Call 311 to report the city tree, then your insurer. Ask 311 whether you may have it removed from the structure.
- Act now
Your own tree fell on your house, garage or the neighbor's
Call a tree service and your insurer.
- Act now
A tree or limb is on the alley power lines
Call ComEd. No one else may touch it.
- This week
A tree is down in the yard and on nothing
Not an emergency. Schedule removal.
The first thirty minutes
Get everyone away
Out of rooms under the tree and out of the yard beneath hanging limbs.
Smell for gas
If you smell it, leave and call the gas company from outside.
Do not go into the alley
If lines are down there, the whole alley may be energized, including fences and puddles.
Photograph from a safe distance
Several angles, including where the tree stood.
Make the calls above
Tell each one exactly what the tree is resting on.
Garages, alleys and why they complicate things
The most common Chicago tree emergency is a backyard tree on a garage. Garages sit at the alley line under the power lines, so the tree is often in the wires as well. Until ComEd has cut power or cleared the lines, a tree crew cannot begin.
After a widespread storm that wait can be a day or more. A tree service can still come, tarp what is reachable, and remove limbs that are clear of the wires.
Once the lines are safe, the tree is lifted off in sections so that weight comes off the roof evenly. If the garage is structurally damaged, the crew works from outside it. Cars inside may have to stay there until the roof is cleared.
Whose tree, whose responsibility
| Tree came from | Removal | Damage to your property |
|---|---|---|
| The parkway | The city removes its tree | Your homeowners or auto policy. You may also file a claim with the city. |
| Your yard | You | Your policy, subject to the deductible |
| A neighbor's yard | Each owner clears their own property in most cases | Your own policy, unless the neighbor was negligent |
| A lot line | Shared | Each owner's policy for their own damage |
What emergency tree work includes
- Making it safe
- Removing what is on the structure and any hanging wood. This is the urgent part.
- Temporary cover
- Many crews will tarp a roof opening or can refer a board-up company.
- What it leaves
- Logs and brush may be stacked for later pickup. The stump and the rest of the tree are separate, non-urgent work.
- Paperwork
- Itemized paperwork separating removal from the structure from general cleanup, which is how insurers sort a claim.
Why emergency work is harder
- After-hours crews
- Nights, weekends and holidays mean smaller crews working in poor light.
- Unstable wood
- A tree on a roof is under load, and each cut is planned. It is slower than a standing removal.
- Equipment on short notice
- A crane brought in the same day is harder to find than one booked weeks ahead.
- Demand
- After a derecho every company is at capacity. See emergency tree removal for how calls are prioritized.
Chicago tree emergency questions
A city tree fell on my house in Chicago. Who removes it?
The city is responsible for its tree. Report it through 311 right away. If it must come off the structure before a city crew arrives, ask 311 and your insurer how to proceed and keep every receipt.
Will ComEd remove the tree from my garage?
No. ComEd makes its lines safe and may cut what is necessary to do that. Removing the tree from your property is up to you.
Can a tree service come at night in Chicago?
Many offer emergency response at any hour for trees on structures. Work near downed lines waits for the utility whatever the hour.
Is the city responsible for damage from a parkway tree?
Not automatically. You can file a claim with the city, and outcomes depend on whether the city had notice of a problem. File with your own insurer first.
Emergency Tree Removal help in Chicago
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in Chicago, IL.
(844) 955-1716Call availability varies by area and time of day
Limbwright is a referral service. Your call goes to an independent tree service company that sets its own schedule and terms. Ask for proof of insurance and a written scope before work starts. How this works
Call now
Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.
(844) 955-1716Call nowCall availability varies by area and time of day