Douglas fir
Pseudotsuga menziesiiKirkland's tallest trees. Shallow roots in soaked winter soil; laminated root rot topples them.
Kirkland, Washington · storm calls 24/7
Tree removal and tree care for Kirkland, WA homes
Removal, pruning and storm cleanup from Finn Hill to Houghton. Before we quote, we tell you whether Kirkland needs a free notification, a permit, or nothing at all.
- Big Douglas firs and cedars next to houses
- Pruning that stays under the city's 25% limit, never topping
- Night and weekend response in windstorm season
26 inchesThe trunk width that makes a Kirkland tree a Landmark.
Quick quote
Name and number. We call back the same day.
Kirkland's tree code in three numbers
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Kirkland?
Usually not a permit, but almost always paperwork. Most healthy trees go through a free Tree Removal Notification, inside a yearly allowance set by lot size.
6"Trunk width at 4.5 ft (DBH) where a tree becomes "regulated" and the rules start.
2 · 3 · 4Trees you may remove per 12 months with a notification, on lots up to 10k, 20k, and over 20k sq ft.
$600Tree Removal Permit fee when the notification doesn't apply. The tree must be a hazard or nuisance.
What we take down
Tree removal services in Kirkland
Big conifers, storm damage and trees that have become dangerous. Removal is the work we're built for.
- 01
Emergency removal
A fir through the roof at 2 a.m. Made safe first, then removed, with photos for insurance and for the city's 7-day report.
Details → - 02
Big fir & cedar removal
Trees of 80 to 150 ft beside houses, taken down in pieces on ropes. Landmark (26"+) paperwork sorted first.
Details → - 03
Crane removals
No drop zone on a tight Houghton or Norkirk lot? A crane lifts each section over the roof.
Details → - 04
Storm & fallen trees
Uprooted trees, snapped tops and limbs on the fence, cut up and hauled away.
Details → - 05
Hazard & nuisance trees
Past your yearly allowance, these are the only trees Kirkland will approve. We help you show why.
Details → - 06
Stump grinding
Ground below grade so you can replant, often to meet a replacement-tree condition.
Details →
Keeping the trees you like
Tree pruning and arborist care
Thinning to let wind through, lifting limbs off the roof, clearing deadwood before winter, opening a lake view. Kirkland bans topping outright.
25%Prune more than a quarter of a tree's live crown and Kirkland may treat it as a removal.
- Pruning and crown thinning
- Lake view pruning without topping
- Arborist reports the city will actually accept
- Dead and dying trees, root rot and cedar dieback
Local species
Kirkland trees we work on most
Each one fails in its own way. Knowing which is half of a good quote.
Western redcedar
Thuja plicataThinning or dead tops after hot summers. Dense crowns catch wind.
Bigleaf maple
Acer macrophyllumHeavy limbs that let go in full leaf, often over driveways.
Pacific madrone
Arbutus menziesiiPeeling red bark on Finn Hill bluffs. Hates root disturbance and over-pruning.
Black cottonwood
Populus trichocarpaFast and brittle along Juanita Creek and the lake edge.
Western hemlock
Tsuga heterophyllaShallow-rooted under the firs; tips over on wet slopes.
When to call
Warning signs we fix
Tap a sign to see what it usually means. Anything moving after a storm is urgent.
A new lean, or soil lifting on one side
A tree that has always leaned is less worrying than one that started leaning after a storm. Cracked or heaving soil on the side away from the lean means the root plate is moving. Call the same day.
Mushrooms or conks at the base of a fir
Fruiting bodies at the root flare often mean root or butt rot. Laminated root rot is common in Eastside Douglas firs and is a frequent reason firs fall over in winter.
A brown or thin top on a cedar
Western redcedars have been dying back from the top after hot, dry summers. A few dead branches can be pruned; a dead top over a roof is a hazard.
Cracks, splits or a hollow sound
Vertical cracks, a split between two trunks or a hollow knock point to internal failure. A Level 3 assessment (resistance drill, sonic test) can measure how much solid wood is left.
Big limbs over the roof
Bigleaf maples and alders drop heavy limbs without warning. Roof clearance pruning is usually allowed without a permit if it stays under 25% of the crown.
Branches touching wires
Pole-to-pole lines are PSE's job. The service drop to your house is often yours to clear, and only qualified line-clearance workers should go near it.
Honest ranges
How much does tree removal cost in Kirkland?
Height, lean, what's underneath and how the crew gets in decide the price. City fees are separate and most quotes forget them.
Full cost guide| Job | Typical 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Small tree, under 30 ft | $400 – $900 |
| Medium tree, 30–60 ft | $900 – $2,000 |
| Large fir or cedar, 60–100 ft | $2,000 – $4,500 |
| 100 ft+ near the house, or crane | $4,000 – $10,000+ |
| Pruning, per large tree | $350 – $1,200 |
| Stump grinding, per stump | $150 – $500 |
| City: Tree Removal Notification | $0 |
| City: Tree Removal Permit | $600 + 3.5% |
| City: Landmark permit + recording | $300 + 3.5%, + $305 |
From call to clean yard
How a Kirkland tree job runs
Tell us about the tree
Call or send photos: species if you know it, height, distance to the house.
Rules check
Notification, permit, Landmark, shoreline or covenant. We say which before anything else.
Written quote
One price that includes cleanup, haul-away and stump grinding if you want it.
The work
Rigging or crane, lawns and beds protected, wood chipped or cut to rounds.
Replant
Replacement trees where the city requires them; the city rebate can cover part of it.
Where we work
Kirkland neighbourhoods
Every part of Kirkland has its own tree problem and its own rule to watch.
Finn HillTall firs, ravines and the Holmes Point Overlay.JuanitaCreek and wetland buffers down to Juanita Bay.Kingsgate1960s–70s lots with 60-year-old conifers.HoughtonLakefront setbacks and view pruning.Rose HillRedevelopment near NE 85th St and the development hold.Totem LakeApartments, offices and required landscaping trees.Bridle TrailsBig wooded lots on the Bellevue line.Norkirk & MarketStreet trees and small downtown lots.
Asked every week
Kirkland tree questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Kirkland, WA?
For most healthy trees on a developed lot, no permit: you file a free Tree Removal Notification before the tree comes down. A $600 Tree Removal Permit is needed when the notification does not apply, for example past your yearly allowance, in a critical-area buffer, in the shoreline setback, in the Holmes Point Overlay or under a tree covenant. Trees under 6 inches DBH are not regulated.
How many trees can I remove from my Kirkland property each year?
With a notification: 2 trees per 12 months on lots up to 10,000 sq ft, 3 on lots of 10,001 to 20,000 sq ft, and 4 on lots over 20,000 sq ft. You must also keep at least 2, 3 or 4 regulated trees on the lot, by the same size bands.
What is a Landmark tree in Kirkland?
Any tree 26 inches or wider at 4.5 feet above the ground. You may remove one Landmark tree per 12 months on a lot without special conditions, with a Landmark Tree Removal Permit ($300 plus a 3.5% surcharge), three replacement trees from the city list and a $305 recording fee.
Can I remove a dangerous tree in an emergency without waiting?
Yes, if it poses an imminent risk to life or property. Kirkland then expects a Private Tree Removal Notification within 7 days with photos or an arborist report. Take photos before cutting: if the city decides it was not an emergency, fines can apply.
How much does it cost to remove a tree in Kirkland?
Roughly $400 to $900 for a small tree, $900 to $2,000 for a 30 to 60 ft tree, and $2,000 to $4,500 for a large fir or cedar. Trees over 100 ft near a house, or crane jobs, can pass $10,000. City fees and an arborist report are extra when a permit is needed.
Can I prune my trees without a permit?
Usually yes, on private property. Topping is banned, and removing more than 25% of the live crown can count as a removal. Trees in critical areas, the shoreline setback, the Holmes Point Overlay or under a covenant need the city's permission before pruning.
Who is responsible for the tree between the sidewalk and the street?
That strip is usually city right-of-way. Pruning or removal needs a Public Tree Pruning or Removal Permit. If the tree threatens your house or cars, you apply and hire the contractor; if it threatens the street or sidewalk, the city schedules the work. Minor pruning of branches under 1.5 inches is allowed.
What month is best for pruning trees in Kirkland?
Late fall through late winter suits most deciduous trees and lets you see the structure. Storm-prep pruning of conifers is best done in late summer and early fall, before the October to March windstorm season. Avoid heavy cuts on maples in early spring, when they bleed sap.
Talk it through with a person
Not sure if the tree has to go, or which form the city wants? Call. Ten minutes on the phone usually answers it.