Tree removal FAQ for Kent homeowners

No. We're a local referral service. When you call or submit a request, we pass it to one registered, bonded and insured tree service that covers Kent. That company contacts you, provides the estimate, and does the work if you hire them. The performing contractor's name and WA registration number are listed at the bottom of every page.

No. It's free for homeowners and there's no obligation to hire anyone. The tree service may pay us a referral fee; that doesn't change your estimate process.

No. Your request goes to one provider for the service you asked about. See our privacy policy for details.

It depends on the property and the tree. The City of Kent asks homeowners who want to remove a tree on private property to contact its Economic & Community Development department at 253-856-5454 or [email protected] to find out about permits. Additional rules can apply to undeveloped lots, trees in or near wetlands, streams or steep slopes, trees in the planting strip by the street, and trees required by an earlier development approval. Check with the city before work starts.

Puget Sound Energy has a tree-trimming program for trees near its power lines, and the City of Kent says it can't remove or maintain trees in or near power lines. Never let an unqualified person work within about 12 feet of a line. A tree pro can help coordinate with PSE.

In Washington, tree removal is contractor work that requires registration with the Department of Labor & Industries. You can look up any company's registration, bond and insurance status for free with L&I's Verify a Contractor tool at secure.lni.wa.gov/verify. Ask for a written estimate and proof of insurance before work begins.

It varies widely with the tree's size, location, condition and access, so a reliable price requires someone to look at the tree. A large fir next to a house that must be climbed and lowered in sections costs far more than a small front-yard tree with open access. Ask what's included: debris haul-away, stump grinding and cleanup. Lincoln Logging Tree Care, the contractor currently doing the work, offers military and senior discounts. Mention it when they contact you.

Often, if it damaged a covered structure like your house or garage, but policies vary. Take photos before anything is moved and call your insurer. Trees that fall without hitting anything are frequently not covered.

Start by talking with your neighbor; they may not know there's a problem. A written opinion from a tree professional can help. Washington law has specific rules about cutting a neighbor's trees, so don't remove or heavily cut a tree that isn't yours without permission and, if needed, legal advice.

Where the tree is, roughly how tall and wide it is, what kind of tree it is if you know, what's nearby (house, fence, power lines), what's wrong, and one or two photos from a distance. Mention access issues like a narrow gate or a steep yard.