Top Rated Tree Services in Fresno CA

Depending on the size of the tree, a permit may be required for tree removal in Fresno. The process is as follows:

1. Call first to request a tree inspection appointment by the Landscape and Maintenance Division by calling 559-621-CITY

2. If the tree is identified as not being an historical or a protected tree, a permit application form will need to be filled in with the number of trees to be removed and the tree contractor you intend to use for the job.

The Fresno tree contractor will need to be a qualified and licensed arborist.

Historical or protected trees will be rejected for application unless they pose a hazard to persons or property.

3. With the tree removal permit form, you will also be given a tree planting form which will also need to be filled in about the replacement of trees you remove.

4. Just because your tree is not historical or protected it not a guarantee you will be granted a permit to remove. If you are successful in your application and your tree removal contractor checks out you will be sent a permit.

5. You will also need to pay the city $231.00 deposit for the planting permit which will be returned upon inspection of the planted trees.

For more information on the process, please refer to the official document here.

Other source: City wide Development Code

Whether you are removing a tree or not, you will need to follow Fresno’s specification for tree planting.

To be honest it is unclear whether these specification are just for planting street trees on the frontage of your property, or if this also includes the planting of trees on your property.

Some of the things they outline are:

• Number of trees that can be planted per 40’ of property you own
• Types of trees they recommend
• Size of hole to dig
• Staking the tree
• Trimming program

The full document is here: Tree Planting Permit Fresno CA

Even though it is not crystal clear whether these rules related to planting on private property, they are some really good guidelines to follow anyway.

They discuss distances to plant away from services, who to call to check for underground pipes and services and the best native trees to plant to support your local ecosystem with all its birds, native animals and insects.

If the tree is on public/ city land, they city will prune or remove the tree if it is causing damage to your property or is a hazard. They will not come and remove a tree on your private land.

All trees on private land are the responsibility of the owner to prune and maintain them, including their removal if needed. All works on private land are to be paid for by the owner.

There are several ways you can go about finding a great tree removal service in Fresno, CA.

You can’t go past a recommendation from a friend, but the next best thing is the recommendation from previous customers in the form of online reviews.

Go Tree Quotes have taken this to the next level by curating a list of the very best top rated tree services in Fresno. All contractors on the list are great, they simply cannot make this list unless they are exceptional over a long period of time, but there can only be one winner, so we needed a formula to work out who that was.

The most important factors when rating a tree service is experience, number of good reviews and average score.

Using a mathematical formula we came up with the GTQ score which lists from the best of the best at the top to the also excellent at the bottom.

Please review to the list above to see the winners.

Now that you have 3 – 4 quotes from local contractors, who do you go with? A lot of the time customers go with the best price. This is understandable, but there are some other factors to consider.

Even though the above tree services are considered the best locally, it is still best not to rush in. Even with an average score of 4.9 stars, you are bound to find some bad reviews. To avoid getting the short end of the stick, I suggest you put the companies through their paces.

Some things you should ask for:

Proof of certification: Make sure they are a qualified arborist. They should not have problem providing you with documentation.

Proof of insurance: Just because they were insured in the past, does not mean they made last months’ payment. Get a copy of their public liability Insurance and be sure to phone the insurer to make sure they are up to date on payments and are currently covered.

Attire: Some customers’ expectations are different to others. If they are well dressed and care about their presentation, then they are more likely to do a nice job with keeping everything clean and tidy.

Punctuality: Did they return your call promptly?  Did they turn up to provide a quote when they said they would? Having a tree contractor near you in Fresno that can be trusted, all starts with the simple things like punctuality.

Whether you go in alone or use the above list of tree services, it is always a good idea to do your own homework. Don’t take our word for it, be diligent in your own assessment of companies.

Like tree removal in Fresno, tree trimming does require a permit and also has a set of specification that your tree service contractor will need to adhere to.

Unlike tree removal however, trimming is very beneficial for trees and is needed for building and power clearance. Because of this the process if a lot easier.

To get started, fill in this form: fresno.gov/publicworks

Before trimming can commence the tree service company performing the work will need to give the forestry supervisor 24 hours’ notice of the exact time of trimming.

The trimming will also need to be in accordance with ANSI Z133, OSHA National Arborist Association pruning standards. In addition the follow conditions also apply:

1. Trees will be trimmed to maintain good form and balance
2. Cannot remove more than 30% of foliage
3.  Must provide 15 feet clearance over street and 8 feet over sidewalk.
4.  No topping is allowed.

The cost of tree removal in Fresno will depend on a large number of factors, the biggest two being the size of your tree and the company you hire to do the work

You will find most companies will be within about 30% of each other on price, but considering removing a large tree can cost $3000 or more, 30% can quickly become a lot of money.

To get a good ballpark figure on the cost of tree removal, check out our 2020 guide here.

The best way to get an accurate price is to get 3 or 4 quotes from local tree services in Fresno.

Go Tree Quotes is a free service that matches you with the top voted tree services near you. It’s fast, easy and free. Click here to answer a few quick questions about our tree job which is forwarded to local tree services who will price your job and send through an estimate.

The cost of tree trimming in Fresno California varies from $225 to trim a small tree or a few palm trees, right up to $1,200 to remove some large branches from an Oak tree.

The main thing that will govern price is the size of the tree, the number of branches and the complexity of the job.

There are other factors such as:

• Time of year
• Company used
• Number of trees
• Tree Species
• Obstacles around tree (power lines, roof etc.)
• Access to the tree

I suggest you check out our tree trimming cost guide for a more accurate price or get 3 quotes from local tree services to know for sure.

Fresno has its own set of oak tree retention laws as outlined in this document.

Some of the guidelines are voluntary and not enforced, but other protections such as heritage tree protection is. Some of the guides include not pruning more than 30% of the canopy at any one time, avoiding root compaction or poisoning while controlling weeds on your property.

Most of these laws and guidelines relate to larger farm properties and will not apply to your tree in suburbia.