Little Rock, Arkansas
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Little Rock
On March 31, 2023 a tornado crossed west Little Rock and removed the tree cover from neighborhoods that had been defined by it. The city's code protects trees in the right-of-way and regulates larger clearing, while ordinary yard trees are left to their owners.
- County
- Pulaski
- Tree rules
- City code Chapter 15, Landscaping and Tree Protection. Planning and Development.
- Key local rule
- Permit required to remove a tree in the public right-of-way or on city property
- Electric utility
- Entergy Arkansas
- Main hazards
- Tornadoes, ice, heavy wet snow, drought stress
The March 2023 tornado and earlier storms
The tornado touched down in far west Little Rock in mid-afternoon and tracked northeast through Walnut Valley, Breckenridge and Cammack Village before crossing the river into North Little Rock, Sherwood and Jacksonville. It damaged thousands of structures. Along the path, large oaks and pines were snapped or uprooted onto the houses they had shaded.
Winter storms have done comparable damage over a wider area. Two ice storms in December 2000 broke trees throughout central Arkansas, and on Christmas Day 2012 about ten inches of wet snow fell on Little Rock, bringing down limbs and leaving much of the city without power.
Summer brings drought. Post oaks and other upland oaks on thin, rocky soil decline after dry years and die a season or two later.
Chapter 15 and the neighborhood overlays
Little Rock's landscaping and tree protection chapter makes it unlawful to remove a tree in the public right-of-way or on city-owned property without the appropriate permit. The chapter also governs tree protection and replacement on commercial, multifamily and development sites.
Clearing on private land is tied to the city's land alteration rules. Removing more than a set number of trees within a year requires a grading permit, and damaged or diseased trees can be approved for removal once a city official certifies their condition. A single hazardous yard tree does not normally reach that threshold.
The Heights has a landscape design overlay that applies when a single-family owner pulls a construction or demolition permit and removes trees: a street-front tree must be kept or planted before occupancy is approved. Arkansas has no arborist license for removal work, so check insurance.
Little Rock neighborhoods and their trees
| Area | Trees | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Hillcrest and the Heights | Post oak, willow oak, southern red oak, 80 to 120 years old | Big trees on sloped lots with tight streets. Crane work. |
| Quapaw Quarter and downtown | Street oaks, pecans, magnolias | Historic district review for major changes |
| West Little Rock | Pine and oak left from the original forest | Tall trees near houses. Tornado replanting. |
| Southwest and east | Sweetgum, pecan, water oak on flatter ground | Storm cleanup and fence-line removals |
Trees that cause the most calls
- Post oak
- Very sensitive to root disturbance. Often dies a few years after construction or trenching nearby.
- Loblolly and shortleaf pine
- Tall and close to houses in the western subdivisions. Killed by beetles after drought.
- Willow and water oak
- Fast-growing street trees that hollow with age.
- Pecan
- Brittle. Loses large limbs in ice and wet snow.
- Sweetgum
- Tops break out in wind.
Trees left standing along a tornado path
Bark stripped or deeply gouged by debris
Large wounds that will decay.
A trunk that was twisted
Spiral cracks may be hidden under the bark.
Most of the crown gone
Hardwoods may resprout but seldom rebuild sound structure.
Roots heaved on one side
The tree is no longer anchored, even if it stands upright.
Deciding what to do in Little Rock
- Act now
A tree is on the house
Call for emergency tree removal and your insurer.
- Plan it
A tree in the right-of-way needs to come down
Contact the city for the permit before any cutting.
- This week
A post oak is dying back after nearby construction
Have it assessed. Decline is usually irreversible.
- Plan it
You are building or adding on in the Heights
Ask Planning how the overlay's tree requirement applies.
Little Rock tree service questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Little Rock yard?
Not for a typical single tree on a residential lot. Permits apply to right-of-way and city trees, and larger clearing can require a grading permit.
What is the Heights tree overlay?
A landscape design overlay that applies when a single-family owner in the Heights obtains a construction or demolition permit and removes trees. It requires keeping or planting a street-front tree before occupancy.
Can trees damaged in the 2023 tornado be saved?
Some can, where the trunk and main limbs are intact. Trees that lost most of the crown, were twisted, or had roots lifted are poor candidates.
Why do post oaks die after construction?
Their fine roots are shallow and intolerant of compaction, fill and cutting. Damage often shows two to five years after the work.
Reach a tree service in Little Rock
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Little Rock 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