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Tree Services Fort Lauderdale, FL 6 Top Rated Experts

Author: Ben McInerney
Certified Arborist

Last updated: 1 October 2021

The Master Arborist Awards and below list is about promoting the Top Rated Tree Service in Fort Lauderdale, FL and taking the guesswork out of hiring.

We want you the customer to easily find the 10 local tree services most likely to give a great service at reasonable prices.

There are a few ways we could have compiled this list.

Instead of taking the traditional route of getting residents to vote (which is usually just friends of the business owner voting), we decided to use all online customer reviews and use those along with other metrics to calculate the 2021 winner.

Table of Contents

We took into consideration:

Years of experience, number of reviews and average score.

Taking a mathematical approach (see the formula used below results) we gave each local tree service a score.

Other minimum criteria to qualify include:

20 reviews
5 years in business
2 sources of customer reviews.

(E.g. Google review and Yelp, but most have 3 – 4 sources.)

Company

Details

Avg. Rating

GTQ score

Place

Visit Site

calander small grey Est. 2012

8 years in business

location small grey Serve Tampa, FL

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Reviews: 151

4.73

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calander small grey Est. 2018

2 years in business

location small grey Serve Tampa, FL

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Reviews: 174

4.15

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calander small grey Est. 2015

5 years in business

location small grey Serve Tampa, FL

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Reviews: 48

4.75

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calander small grey Est. 2016

4 years in business

location small grey Serve Tampa, FL

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Reviews: 57

4.67

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calander small grey Est. 2010

10 years in business

location small grey Serve Tampa, FL

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Reviews: 21

4.60

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calander small grey Est. 2018

2 years in business

location small grey Serve Tampa, FL

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Reviews: 26

4.75

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calander small grey Est. 2015

5 years in business

location small grey Serve Tampa, FL

Visit Website

Reviews: 6

4.90

Do I need a permit to remove trees in Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Yes. Under certain conditions.

The city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has several ordinances regulating tree removal and any other work on trees. As a result, there are protected trees that you have to obtain a permit before removing them. Before you remove any tree, you have to make sure that you have obtained a permit in case it is a protected tree.

Here are some of the trees that require a permit for removal.

When removing a conifer or dicot tree with a diameter above 3 inches or above, or monocot tree 8 feet or more in any other place other than one developed family residence lot.

Within a single-family residence lot, if;

The tree being removed is for redevelopment anticipation and is a conifer or dicot tree 3 inches or wider in diameter, or monocot of 8 feet or above, or has more wood.
No anticipation of development and the tree is either a conifer or dicot whose diameter is (8) inches and above or it measures four and one-half feet above its grade.
It is a palm in Roystonea, Cocos and Phoenix genus (except roebellini) measuring eight feet or has more wood.

If your tree is more than 10 feet taller, then you also need a permit.

Fill Fort Lauderdale tree permit application form where applicable to get a permit.

Are there, exemptions?

Yes, there are a few trees that do not need approval from the city for removal. They include the following.

Bishopwood
Melaleuca
Pencil tree
Schefflera
Australian Pine
Brazilian Pepper
Earleaf Acacia
Norfolk Island Pine
Poisonwood

What are the tree removal and landscaping permit fees in Fort Lauderdale?

The following are fees you should expect to pay when applying for either tree removal or landscaping permits in the city of Fort Lauderdale Broward County.

Landscape inspection and review – $90.00
Tree relocation/removal and inspection, the minimum fee (except single-family) – $170.00 Tree removal, per tree – $25.00
Landscape inspection and review of code compliance – $90.00
Landscape job check/reinspection – $45.00

Is it Illegal to remove a tree in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County without a permit?

Yes.

Any tree work is done without the necessary approval from the local administration where necessary is considered an offence.

The offence is punishable in several ways. One of them is through hefty fines. Another way is by the replacement of trees removed and the replacement of their value.

As a result, you have to make sure you have a permit to remove trees in case they are protected.

Do I have to replace a tree after removal in the city of Fort Lauderdale?

Under certain conditions, yes.

Once you have received a tree removal permit from the department in charge, they will determine whether there is a need for equivalent replacement of the tree removed or its value. However, certain trees do not require replacement. Below is a link to the list.

https://library.municode.com/fl/fort_lauderdale/codes/unified_land_development_code?=UNLADERE_CH47UNLADERE_ARTIIIDERE_S47-21LATRPRRE_S47-21.15TRPR

What about the removal of trees or dead trees causing a nuisance to the public?

Public nuisance- This is a tree, stump or dead tree in any land within Fort Lauderdale that endangers public health, welfare, safety or may cause the spread of infestation or disease to surrounding plants. It is prohibited.

The department shall provide the owner of the land where the nuisance has been identified with a notice.

The notice shall give commands to the owner to ensure the removal of the stump tree or dead tree within 30 days from the day of receiving the notice. In cases where the notice is not obeyed and nuisance removed, the city may either remove or have it removed and the owner of the land to bear the cost.

Removal of street trees in Fort Lauderdale

Trees growing along the streets and privately owned require permits for removal in cases where they are protected. However, if the tree belongs to the city department, it can be removed when seen appropriate by the city administration. This is in cases where it is causing a nuisance to the public, or there is a need for development in the area.

What if my tree is obstructing the streets?

The city of Fort Lauderdale has guidelines pertaining to the removal of trees or shrubs obstructing the city streets.

The city manager has the authority to either cause or remove any shrub or tree obstructing any sidewalk, street or grass plat that is within 25 feet of travel ways of streets in the city.

However, the city manager shall make a request to the owner of the said shrub or tree to remove the obstruction and give them a 10-day notice. In cases where the property owner does not comply within the timeline, the city shall remove the obstruction, and the property will bear the cost.

How much does it cost to remove trees in Fort Lauderdale

The average cost of tree removal in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is $530 per tree.

However, the range is between $480 and $700 per tree.

The cost is affected by two main factors which are the size of the tree and accessibility. A tall and huge tree will cost more than a small tree. Accessibility affects the ability and time spent on the tree removal company and their equipment to get to the tree. Make sure that you clear the way for them before the work starts.

Other factors that can affect the cost of tree removal include;

Location
Type of company
Time of the year
Tree species

City of Fort Lauderdale Green Canopy

The green canopy is a program by the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida to provide a green and beautiful city. The program works as a sustainable project that ensures a huge layer of branches, leaves and stems that cover the ground when viewed from above. The program works by encouraging and supporting the growth of trees in the city but in a controlled manner.

As a result, the city has several guidelines that enable the program to work. These are programs that teach how to plant trees, urban forests, provide forestry services, give trees, help in the selection of trees as well as planting and care guidelines, among others. They include;

Tree trimming Fort Lauderdale

Tree trimming is considered a crucial exercise by both the county of Broward and the city of Fort Lauderdale. As a result, the city authorities provide guidelines on the trimming of trees.
According to the city government guidelines;
1. Pruning of trees close to power lines should be done by FPL or contractors authorized by FPL only.
2. Safety measures should be adhered to when pruning.
3. In dangerous cases, the pruning work should be done by a licensed professional or trimmer.
4. Pruning is best suitable during winter or early spring.
5. One should hire professionals licensed by Broward county.

Do I need a permit to trim my trees in Fort Lauderdale, Broward county?

No. A permit is not required to trim trees within the city of Fort Lauderdale and the Broward council as a whole.

However, the trimming work should be done in accordance with the Trimming Ordinance.

Tree trimming Ordinance Broward County

The county administration has provided guidelines on how trimming should be carried out. Although trimming work does not require a permit, one is required to adhere to the ordinance guidelines whenever doing the work.

The ordinance affects any business or individual that offers, advertises or performs trimming of trees within Broward county. It also applies to any government agency trimming trees.

Each site for tree trimming should have at least one licensed trimmer who should also be directly supervising any other unlicensed employees on site. The details of the licensed trimmer or business, such as name, phone and license numbers should be displayed on their vehicle for business permanently.

There are two types of trimmer licenses issued by the Broward County government.

Cost of tree trimming in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The cost of trimming trees is affected by several factors that you have to know about. However, the average cost of trimming trees in Fort Lauderdale stands at $450 per tree.

With the range being between $371 and $553, the following factors will affect the cost.

The size of the tree
Type of tree/species
Level of trimming required.
Location of the tree
Access to the tree
Tree trimming company

You can reduce the over cost of trimming by ensuring there is good access to your trees for the tree service company.

Cost of stump removal Fort Lauderdale

Certain factors can also influence the cost of removing a stump. They include;

The location of the stump
Access
Size of the stump

The majority of companies charge in terms of a linear inch or stump diameter. The average cost is $3.80 per linear inch.

However, the cost range is from $3.50 to $4.00.

What is the cost of Lot/Land clearing in Fort Lauderdale?

Lot/land clearing is accompanied by many factors that can affect the cost. They include;

Number of trees on the land
Land topography
Expected work e,g. leveling,
Shrubs or rocks
Location of the land.

The average cost of lot/land clearing in Fort Lauderdale is $2, 054 per acre. The price can, however, range between $1,350 to $2, 815 per acre depending on the above-discussed factors.

How we did it.

Qualified companies: To qualify to make the list, you needed to have a minimum of 20 reviews total across a minimum of 2 different platforms. This can be Google, Facebook, Yelp, Yellow Pages, Angie’s List, Home advisor or any other 3rd party review platform. Curated reviews taken on personal websites were not counted.

The company needed to be in business for a minimum of 5 years.

We feel that years in operation is a big factor as it speaks volumes about the competence of the business as a whole. A lot of the business on the list have been in business for 10 years or more.

All American Arbor Services LLC

4.73

(151)

All American Arbor Services is capable of handling any job which comes their way with ease due to the top of the line equipment that they carry. Services that they can assist with include: property management, residential and commercial, tree pruning, land clearing... Read more >

Serve Tampa, FL

8 years in business

Molina’s landscaping and tree service

4.15

(2)

Molina’s landscaping and tree service is a comprehensive landscaping company offering a wide array of residential and commercial landscaping features. They have a network of designers and landscaping professionals that are among the most well-respected in the business.... Read more >

Serve Tampa, FL

2 years in business

A&K Tree Service and More

4.75

(48)

A&K Tree Service and More is a family-owned business with years of experience in all of the services that they provide. They understand the value of a dollar with the knowledge that it is important to their customers as well. They work hard to give the best price and the best service possible. When they founded their company, all of their business was by word of mouth.... Read more >

Serve Tampa, FL

5 years in business

South Florida Tree Care

4.67

(57)

South Florida Tree Care specialize in tree trimming and removals. They concentrate on taking their time with each job to ensure the safety of their employees and also for the satisfaction from each client to ensure... Read more >

Serve Tampa, FL

4 years in business

Lumberjack Jake’s South Florida Tree Service

4.60

(21)

Lumberjack Jake’s South Florida Tree Service is able to offer reliable results, professional service and they are fully licensed and insured. Services that they offer include tree removal, tree trimming, stump grinding, stump removal, tree planting and permit processing.... Read more >

Serve Tampa, FL

10 years in business

MJ’s Tree and Landscaping Service

4.75

(26)

MJ’s Tree and Landscaping Service is a professional landscaping company that is based in Fort Lauderdale which offers quality services at affordable prices. With more than 10-years of experience in the industry, their team of highly skilled landscaping contractors have certifications... Read more >

Serve Tampa, FL

2 years in business

Perfect Tree Service

4.90

(6)

Perfect tree service prides itself on being punctual and efficient. They offer high-quality skilled workmanship and amazing customer service.... Read more >

Serve Tampa, FL

5 years in business

FAQ's

How much do tree services cost?

The average cost of tree removal is $871, while the average cost of tree trimming is $433.

These numbers will vary greatly depending on the size of your tree(s) and what work needs to be done. The real range is anywhere from $250 right up to $4,900.

Trees in hard to access properties will cost more to remove than a tree in a front yard with easy access. Please view our tree removal cost guide for more details.

What services are offed by tree arborists?

Arborist can perform a wide variety of services including tree removal, tree trimming, palm trimming. root pruning, risk and hazard assessment and treatment of disease.

That can also provide written arborist reports to present to council for tree removal permit applications.

What do tree services do with their wood chips?

If you ask a tree service 95% of the time they would be happy to give you the wood chips that were created from your tree being removed. Most of the time tree services struggle to get rid of them. Larger companies will store them and sell them on for a profit, but very few. Others give them to landscape suppliers free, who then sell them to the public.

How much does it cost to trim a tree?

This will depend on the size of the tree being trimmed, the number of branches you would like to remove and the location of the tree on your property. The average price for tree trimming is $433, but for palm tree trimming it’s $75. You will need to get a quote from your local tree service to get an accurate price.

How much does it cost to remove a tree stump?

This can cost anywhere from $100 – $500 depending on the size of the stump. The most time consuming part of stump removal is getting rid of the timber shavings created in the stump removal process. A lot of the time you can negotiate with your local tree service about leaving the shavings for a reduced price.

Do I need council approval to remove a tree?

Adelaide Councils are fairly relaxed when it comes to tree removal laws. There is a good chance you can remove your tree without approval. You will need to fist check the Tree Preservation Order for your local council. If your tree is not considered significant and is not protected you may remove it.

Can I get a quote over the phone?

Tree removal and pruning is tricky to quote just by a description. Depending on the size of the tree and difficulty to remove, the price will fluctuate up or down. An on-site inspection is needed to make sure you are given a fair price and the tree service is prepared on the day with the correct machinery.

Tree Services by City

Author: Ben McInerney - Ben is a qualified arborist with 15 plus years of industry experience in Arboriculture. He ran a successful tree service before turning to writing and publishing. Ben is dedicated to providing users with the most accurate up-to-date information on everything trees.