Anchorage, Alaska
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Anchorage
Anchorage homes sit inside the forest, especially on the Hillside and in Eagle River. Southeast winds off the Chugach Mountains, beetle-killed spruce and wildfire risk all point toward the same task: knowing which trees near the house should come down.
- Borough
- Municipality of Anchorage
- Tree rules
- Municipality of Anchorage. Alaska Division of Forestry guidance on spruce beetle.
- Key local rule
- No general permit for private residential trees. Check subdivision covenants and right-of-way rules.
- Electric utility
- Chugach Electric Association
- Main hazards
- Downslope windstorms, spruce beetle, heavy snow, wildfire
Wind off the Chugach
When a strong low passes to the west, southeast wind accelerates down the front of the Chugach range onto the Anchorage Hillside. Gusts above 80 mph are recorded most winters on the upper slopes, and occasionally above 100.
The windstorm of early September 2012 is the one residents compare others to. It arrived while leaves were still on and the ground was wet and unfrozen. Thousands of trees came down across the city, and tens of thousands of customers lost power.
Storms later in winter do less tree damage for the same wind, because the ground is frozen and deciduous trees are bare. Record snowfalls in recent winters have bent and broken birch instead.
Rules, covenants and wood handling
The Municipality of Anchorage does not have a general permit requirement for removing trees on a private residential lot. Trees in the public right-of-way are another matter, and work there may need a right-of-way permit. Many Hillside subdivisions have covenants that limit clearing or require approval.
Alaska does not license arborists. Ask for insurance certificates and for experience with dead spruce specifically.
State foresters advise on timing because of spruce beetle. Adults fly from roughly mid-May through July and are drawn to fresh spruce wood. Cutting green or newly infested spruce in fall and winter, and not stacking fresh logs with bark near living spruce in spring, reduces the chance of drawing beetles to the trees you want to keep.
Anchorage trees and their problems
- White and Lutz spruce
- The main beetle host. Dead trees stand for a few years, then fail at the base.
- Paper birch
- The dominant deciduous tree. Trunk decay is common, and tops break under heavy snow.
- Black cottonwood
- Huge trees in older parts of town and along creeks. Soft wood, large limb failures.
- Mountain hemlock and Sitka spruce
- In Girdwood, which has a rainforest climate unlike the Anchorage Bowl.
- Mayday tree
- European bird cherry. Invasive along streams, and the municipality discourages planting it.
Parts of the municipality
| Area | Setting | Typical work |
|---|---|---|
| Hillside | Large wooded lots on slopes, highest wind | Removing dead and wind-exposed spruce, fire-wise thinning |
| Anchorage Bowl | Suburban lots with birch and spruce | Hazard removals near houses, snow damage |
| Eagle River and Chugiak | Forested lots, beetle activity | Dead spruce removal, clearing around structures |
| Girdwood | Coastal rainforest, steep ground | Very large conifers, saturated-soil failures |
Clearing for wildfire on a wooded lot
Remove dead spruce within reach of buildings first
It is both the falling hazard and the most flammable fuel.
Thin living spruce near the house
Keep crowns apart. Favor birch and aspen, which resist fire better.
Prune lower limbs
Six to eight feet up on remaining conifers.
Get the slash off the lot
Chip it, haul it to a wood lot, or burn under a permit when allowed.
Trees to act on before the next wind
A spruce dead for several years
Bark falling away and no fine twigs left. See dead tree removal.
A birch with conks on the trunk
Hollow inside, and likely to snap at that point.
Trees at the edge of a new clearing
They grew up sheltered and are now exposed to the full wind.
A tree leaning with a raised root mat
It moved in the last storm and will go further in the next.
Alaska and Pacific Northwest pages
Anchorage tree service questions
Do I need a permit to cut down trees on my Anchorage lot?
Generally not on a private residential lot. Check your subdivision's covenants, and ask the municipality about any tree in the right-of-way.
When is the best time to remove spruce in Anchorage?
Fall and winter, after beetle flight has ended. Dead trees that threaten a building can come down at any time.
Where can I take beetle-killed spruce wood?
Disposal options change from year to year. Ask your tree company and the municipality's solid waste services about current wood lots and rules.
Is tree work possible in an Anchorage winter?
Yes. Frozen ground helps with access. Short daylight and extreme cold shorten the working day, so jobs take longer on the calendar.
Reach a tree service in Anchorage
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Anchorage 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