Birmingham, Alabama
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Birmingham
Birmingham lies in a series of ridges and valleys at the southern end of the Appalachians. Storms funnel along those valleys, and the city has been crossed by damaging tornadoes several times in recent memory.
- County
- Jefferson
- Tree rules
- City of Birmingham for public trees and rights-of-way. Suburbs set their own.
- Key local rule
- Private residential trees generally need no city permit. Work in the right-of-way does.
- Electric utility
- Alabama Power
- Main hazards
- Tornadoes, straight-line wind, tropical remnants, drought and beetles
Is a permit needed to remove a tree in Birmingham?
Generally not for a tree on your own residential lot inside the City of Birmingham. Trees in the public right-of-way are another matter, and so are the separate cities that surround Birmingham.
- Right-of-way
- Trees between the sidewalk and street and in medians are public. Ask the city before any work.
- Historic districts
- Design review in neighborhoods such as Highland Park and Forest Park can cover major landscape changes.
- Over the Mountain suburbs
- Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Hoover have their own ordinances. Mountain Brook in particular regulates tree removal on residential lots.
April 27, 2011 and other tornado days
The violent tornado that struck Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011 continued northeast into Jefferson County and crossed the western and northern parts of Birmingham, including Pratt City and Smithfield Estates. Along its path, mature trees were snapped, stripped or simply gone.
Nine months later, on January 23, 2012, a nighttime tornado hit the Center Point and Clay area on the city's northeast side. Hurricane Zeta's remnants in October 2020 brought tropical-storm gusts all the way to Birmingham and left a large part of the metro area without power.
In a typical year the damage comes from spring squall lines and summer thunderstorms: one or two tall pines or a water oak down on a street, and limbs on service lines.
City rules and the state license
The City of Birmingham manages trees on public property and in street rights-of-way. Residents should not remove or heavily prune those trees, and contractors need the city's permission to work on them.
Because the metro area is a patchwork of more than thirty municipalities, the first step is confirming which one you are in. A Birmingham mailing address does not mean Birmingham city rules apply.
Alabama licenses tree surgery through the Department of Agriculture and Industries. A company that prunes or treats trees for pay should hold that license. Ask for it, and for insurance certificates sent by the insurer.
Ridges, valleys and what they mean for a removal
- Red Mountain and Shades Mountain slopes
- Steep lots with rock near the surface. Trees are rigged down in sections and stumps are often left.
- Southside and Highland Park
- Large oaks on small urban lots with on-street parking. Crane setups need planning.
- Valley floor neighborhoods
- Flatter and easier, with tall loblolly pines close to houses.
- Creek bottoms
- Soft ground along Shades and Village creeks limits heavy equipment after rain.
Birmingham yard trees
| Tree | Common issue | Usual response |
|---|---|---|
| Loblolly pine | Height near houses, beetle kills after drought, lightning | Remove dead pines quickly. Inspect live ones. |
| Water oak | Decay in trunk and roots by 60 to 80 years | Assess. Many are removed. |
| Southern red and white oak | Long-lived. Root damage from construction. | Protect roots. Prune dead wood. |
| Tulip poplar | Tall, fast, brittle tops | Reduce or remove when over a roof |
| Hackberry and chinaberry | Weak wood along fences and alleys | Remove while small |
What needs attention now, soon or later
- Act now
A tree is on the house after a storm
Leave that part of the house and call. See emergency tree removal.
- This week
A pine turned brown in the last few weeks
Schedule removal before it becomes too brittle to climb.
- This week
A big water oak has mushrooms at the base
Arrange an assessment before spring storms.
- Plan it
You are buying a house under large trees
Have them inspected along with the house.
Birmingham tree service questions
Do Mountain Brook and Homewood follow Birmingham's tree rules?
No. They are separate cities with their own ordinances. Check with your own city hall before removing a large tree.
How soon should a dead pine come down in Birmingham?
Within a few months. Dead pine decays fast in this climate and soon cannot be climbed, which means a lift or crane.
Does my Birmingham tree company need a state license?
Tree surgery is a licensed professional service in Alabama. Ask to see the license from the Department of Agriculture and Industries.
Can a tree be removed from a steep lot on Red Mountain?
Yes. It is climbed and lowered in pieces, or lifted by a crane from the street. Expect a longer job than for the same tree on flat ground.
Reach a tree service in Birmingham
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Birmingham area, or leave your number and one will call you back.
(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