Cleveland, Ohio
Tree Removal and Tree Service in Cleveland
In Cleveland the tree between the sidewalk and the street belongs to the city, and nobody may plant, prune or remove it without a permit from Urban Forestry. Trees in the yard behind the sidewalk are the owner's responsibility.
- County
- Cuyahoga
- Tree rules
- Codified Ordinances Chapter 509, Trees. Division of Urban Forestry.
- Key local rule
- Tree work permit before planting, pruning, removing or altering a public tree
- Electric utility
- The Illuminating Company (FirstEnergy) and Cleveland Public Power
- Main hazards
- Summer windstorms and tornadoes, lake-effect snow, emerald ash borer
Public trees, Chapter 509 and the tree work permit
Urban Forestry requires a tree work permit before anyone plants, prunes, removes or otherwise alters a public tree. Public trees include those in tree lawns, medians, parks and city-managed lots. Digging, trenching, driveway and sidewalk work near one can also need the permit.
The permit conditions are specific. Pruning must be done by ISA Certified Arborists. Topping, lion-tailing and pollarding are not allowed. Oaks and elms are to be pruned only from November through March; if they must be cut between April 1 and the first frost, the wounds are painted. Removal is generally refused for a tree that still has value, and damage to a public tree is subject to restitution under Chapter 509.
For private land the city's rules are tied to development. Ordinance 1121-18 requires a tree preservation plan for projects on an acre or more and for apartment and townhouse projects of four or more units, with trees replaced one for one. An ordinary yard tree at an existing house is not covered by a removal permit.
August 6, 2024 and the weeks after
On the afternoon of August 6, 2024 a line of storms produced five tornadoes and a macroburst across Northeast Ohio. Trees came down by the thousand on the west side of Cleveland and through the western suburbs, and some neighborhoods waited days for power.
The cleanup exposed a gap that residents still raise. The city's small forestry staff and its contractors cleared streets and public land first, and local news crews found fallen trees still lying across sidewalks more than a month later. Owners of private trees were told to call their insurers.
Winter brings a second season of damage. Lake-effect snow falling on trees still in leaf in October and November snaps limbs across the east side snowbelt.
After a Cleveland storm: who to call, in order
Wires first
Treat every downed line as live. Report it to your utility, which will be either The Illuminating Company or Cleveland Public Power depending on your street.
Tree blocking the street or sidewalk
Report it to the city. Clearing the right-of-way is the city's job.
Tree lawn tree damaged but standing
Report it to Urban Forestry. Do not hire someone to cut it without a permit.
Yard tree on your house, garage or car
Call your insurer and arrange emergency tree removal. The city does not remove private trees.
Neighbor's tree on your property
Your own policy normally responds first. Keep photos showing where the trunk stood.
Common Cleveland trees
| Tree | Where it is common | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Silver maple | Back lots and tree lawns in older wards | Hollow trunks, heavy limbs over garages |
| Norway maple | Street plantings from the 1950s and 60s | Girdling roots, decline, dense shade |
| Pin oak and red oak | West Park, Old Brooklyn, the Heights border | Oak wilt risk if pruned in the growing season |
| London plane | Boulevards and parkways | Great size near wires |
| Ash | Scattered survivors and dead standing trees | Emerald ash borer. Dead ash shatters when cut. |
| Tree of heaven | Vacant lots, fence lines, alleys | Fast, weak, and host to spotted lanternfly |
Signs worth acting on before the next storm
A maple with a long vertical crack below a fork
The two stems are separating. Wind or wet snow finishes it.
An ash with bark flaking off in pale patches
Woodpeckers feeding on borer larvae. The tree is dying or dead.
Large dead limbs over the driveway or the neighbor's roof
These fall first and are the easiest hazard to remove.
Mushrooms at the base of a silver maple
Root and butt rot. The trunk can fail at ground level.
A tree on a vacant lot leaning toward your house
Report it. Lots held by the city or the land bank are handled through the city.
What to do about a Cleveland tree
- Act now
A tree or large limb is on a building
Call your insurer and a tree service. Stay out of the damaged rooms.
- This week
The tree lawn tree is dead or dropping limbs
Report it to the city and keep the reference number. Follow up if nothing happens.
- This week
A dead ash stands in your yard
Schedule dead tree removal before it becomes too brittle to dismantle safely.
- Plan it
You want to prune an oak
Wait for November through March.
Cleveland tree service questions
Who owns the tree between the sidewalk and the street in Cleveland?
The city. It is a public tree, and planting, pruning or removing it requires a tree work permit from Urban Forestry.
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Cleveland backyard?
Not for an ordinary tree at an existing home. The city's private property rules apply to development projects. Suburbs such as Lakewood, Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights have their own ordinances.
Will the city remove a private tree that fell in a storm?
No. The city clears the public right-of-way. A tree that fell within your property is a matter for you and your insurer.
When can oaks be pruned in Cleveland?
The city's permit terms for public trees limit oak and elm pruning to November through March. The same timing is sensible for private oaks because of oak wilt.
Reach a tree service in Cleveland
Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Cleveland 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