Tree Removal Service Smyrna GA: Trusted Local Tree Company

Tree Removal Service in Smyrna, From Permit to Cleanup

Smyrna is one of the most densely populated cities in metro Atlanta, and it keeps a close eye on its big trees. The city has its own arborist and a tree ordinance, and many large trees need a city permit before they can come down. If you have a dying oak over the house or a pine leaning toward the neighbor’s roof, you need a tree removal service that knows those rules and can take the tree down safely on a tight lot.

Restoration Tree Care is a licensed, insured tree company, family-owned and based in Cobb County. We provide tree removal for homeowners across the city, from older streets near downtown Market Village and the Village Green to newer townhome communities. We check the permit question first, give you a clear price and handle the job from the first cut to the final cleanup.

Do You Need a Permit?

For a home inside city limits, it depends mostly on the size of the tree. Under the city’s residential rules:

• Trees smaller than 24 inches in diameter, measured 4.5 feet above the ground, can be removed without a permit.
• Trees 24 inches or larger need a removal permit from the city before any work starts. Several trees on the same property can go on one permit.
• Trees that are dead, dying or hazardous also need a permit, but the fee is waived when a qualified professional documents the tree’s condition with an assessment and photos.
• Each healthy tree 24 inches or larger that comes down must be replaced with a new 2 inch caliper tree within six months, or the owner pays into the city’s Tree Bank.
• No trees can be removed inside the 50 foot buffer along designated streams.

Removing a tree before the permit is issued doubles the fee and the replacement requirement, so it pays to sort this out first. When we come out for the estimate, we’ll measure the tree, tell you whether it needs a permit, and help you gather the photos and condition notes the city asks for. The city’s Arborist Division handles questions about specific trees and also offers tree assessment reports.

Removing Big Trees on Tight Lots

The city has grown fast, and a lot of that growth is infill. New homes and townhomes sit close to older trees, and many backyards have a fence, a deck and a power line within reach of a single oak. There’s rarely room to fell a large tree whole here.

So most of our jobs here are done in sections. A climber works from the top down, and the crew lowers each limb and trunk piece on ropes into a planned landing area. When a tree is wedged between two houses and can’t be reached any other way, a crane may be the safest option. We lay protection over the lawn where equipment crosses and keep the street and driveway clear while we work.

When a Tree Should Come Down

Not every problem tree needs removal, and we’ll tell you when trimming or an arborist assessment is the better first step. These are the signs that usually point to removal:

• A new lean, especially with cracked or raised soil on one side
• Large dead limbs over the roof, the driveway or a play area
• Fungus, soft wood or open cavities at the base of the trunk
• A pine that has browned out from the top
• A tree that started declining a few years after construction nearby

That last one is common here. Trenching, grading and new driveways cut and compact roots, and the tree often looks fine for a while before the canopy thins and limbs start dying back.

After a Storm

Summer thunderstorms and the occasional ice storm bring trees down across Cobb County. If a tree is on your house or blocking the driveway, call us. Our emergency crews respond around the clock, and the first job is getting the weight off the structure and making the area safe. Stay away from any tree touching a power line and call the utility first. Once the damage is under control, we finish the removal and clean up.

What’s Included in the Job

Every tree removal service we do includes the inspection, the takedown, hauling away the wood and brush, and raking the work area. Stump grinding happens during the same appointment if you want it, so you can plant the replacement tree, lay sod or reseed right away.

If you’re replacing a large tree to meet the city’s rules, we’re happy to talk through where the new tree should go so it has room to grow away from the house and the lines.

Close to Home

We’re a full tree service, and we work throughout Cobb County, including nearby Marietta and Fair Oaks. You can read what local homeowners say about our crews on our reviews page or learn more about our team.

Permit and Removal Questions

How do I tell if my tree is 24 inches in diameter?

Wrap a tape measure around the trunk 4.5 feet above the ground. If the circumference is about 75 inches or more, the tree is 24 inches or larger and needs a permit inside city limits. We’ll measure it for you during the estimate.

Do I have to plant a new tree after removing one?

For a healthy tree 24 inches or larger, yes. The city requires a 2 inch caliper replacement of a similar species within six months, or a payment to the Tree Bank instead. Dead, dying and hazardous trees are handled differently.

What happens if a tree is removed without a permit?

The city charges double the permit fee and doubles the replacement requirement for each tree. That’s why we check the permit question before we cut anything.

My backyard runs along a creek. Can I take down a tree there?

Possibly not. The city doesn’t issue removal permits inside the 50 foot buffer along designated streams. If a tree in that area is a hazard, contact the City Arborist about your options.

We’re building an addition. Can the big oak in the backyard stay?

Sometimes. It depends on how much of the root zone the work will disturb. Roots spread well past the branches, and cutting them during construction can kill a tree a few years later. Have the tree looked at before the plans are final.

Get a Free Estimate

If a tree on your property is dying, leaning or growing over the house, have it looked at before the next storm. Contact us today or call (470) 276-0495 to schedule a free estimate for tree removal service in Smyrna, GA. We’ll measure the tree, tell you where you stand on permits and give you a clear price.