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Limbwright Tree Removal Services
Arborist in a helmet and harness climbing a trunk on a rope

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Tree Removal and Tree Service in Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant has protected its live oaks in the zoning code for years. A zoning update that took effect May 1, 2025 widened each protected tree's root protection zone to one foot of radius for every inch of trunk diameter and added large pines, 24 inches and up, to the trees that need a removal permit.

Call (844) 955-1716
County
Charleston
Tree rules
Town of Mount Pleasant zoning code tree protection provisions (updated 2025)
Key local rule
Permits for protected trees, including large live oaks and, since 2025, pines 24 inches and up
Electric utility
Dominion Energy South Carolina and Berkeley Electric Cooperative
Main hazards
Hurricanes, marsh-edge soils, tall pines over houses, rapid development

Which Mount Pleasant trees need a permit?

Protected trees, which include live oaks and other hardwoods above the code's size limits, and since the 2025 update, mature pines 24 inches or more in diameter. A town official described 16 inches and larger as the typical minimum protected size on residential lots. Check with the town for your species and size.

Live oaks
Long protected, and the main focus of the code.
Pines 24 inches and up
Now need a removal permit and a mitigation plan.
Replacement
Required on residential lots, with a 2-inch caliper minimum since 2025.

Town rules or county rules

Inside the Town of Mount Pleasant

  • Town zoning code applies
  • Protected trees and the 2025 pine rule
  • Protection zone of one foot per inch of diameter
  • Town permit and replanting

Unincorporated Charleston County

  • County zoning applies
  • Grand Trees at 24 inches, except pine and sweetgum
  • Grand Tree permits only for dead, diseased, dying or hazardous trees
  • Board of Zoning Appeals for hardship

Confirm whether an address is inside town limits before planning work. The two sets of rules differ on pines in particular.

What the 2025 update changed

Town Council approved the zoning code changes in spring 2025, effective May 1. The protection zone around a protected tree is now a circle with a radius of one foot for every inch of trunk diameter at breast height, so a 30-inch live oak has a 30-foot protection zone where construction is restricted.

Large pines, long left out of protection, now need a permit and mitigation plan to remove once they reach 24 inches. The minimum size of replacement trees was lowered from 4-inch to 2-inch caliper, which makes replacements easier to establish.

From shrimp town to suburb

Mount Pleasant has grown from a village across the Cooper River into one of South Carolina's largest towns in a few decades. Much of that growth cleared pine and oak woodland, which is why residents pushed for stronger protection of the trees that remain, and why pines were added in 2025.

The Old Village and the shrimp docks on Shem Creek keep the oldest live oaks, many draped in Spanish moss and resurrection fern. Newer neighborhoods off Highway 17 and Rifle Range Road have tall loblolly pines left standing during construction, now towering over two-story houses.

Hurricane Hugo made landfall just north of Charleston in September 1989 and leveled trees across Mount Pleasant. Live oaks came through far better than pines and water oaks.

Gloved hands running a chainsaw through a limb as chips spray
Image for illustration.

Lowcountry warning signs

  • Pines leaning toward the house after a storm

    Wet, sandy soils let roots slip.

  • Water oaks with hollow bases

    Short-lived oaks near the end of their lives.

  • Live oak limbs resting on roofs

    A pruning job, not a removal.

  • Saltwater-browned leaves near the marsh

    Damage after king tides or surge.

Steps to a town removal permit

  1. Confirm jurisdiction

    Town or county.

  2. Measure

    Diameter at breast height and species.

  3. Apply to the town

    With photos and, for a hazard, an arborist report.

  4. Mitigation plan

    Required for pines 24 inches and up and for many protected hardwoods.

  5. Replant

    At least 2-inch caliper trees, as the permit requires.

Mount Pleasant tree questions

Can I remove a 20-inch pine in Mount Pleasant?

Under the 2025 rule, pines become regulated at 24 inches. Check the town's current code for smaller pines on your lot type.

Does construction near a live oak need approval?

Work inside the protection zone, one foot of radius per inch of diameter, is restricted. Talk to the town before digging.

Are Charleston city rules the same?

No. The City of Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Charleston County each have their own tree rules.

How should Lowcountry live oaks be pruned?

Lightly, keeping interior foliage. See the Charleston tree trimming page for detail.

Charleston area pages

Reach a tree service in Mount Pleasant

Call to be connected with an independent tree company that works in the Mount Pleasant area, or leave your number and one will call you back.

(844) 955-1716

Call 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

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Talk to a tree service provider in your area. Have the tree's location and what it is near ready.

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Call availability varies by area and time of day

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