Tree Service Questions, Answered: Mount Pleasant and Charleston, SC

In general, the cost of removing a tree depends on things like the tree's height, trunk size and spread; whether it is dead, decayed or leaning; what stands under and around it, such as a house, a fence or a driveway; how easily it can be reached; how much wood and debris has to be hauled away; whether the stump is ground; and any permit fee or replacement trees the town or city requires. Our tree removal page explains what the work involves, and you can call (843) 345-0579 or request an estimate online. This page lists no prices. Estimates are free.

Height is only one of the things that can affect the cost. In general, the cost of removing a tree depends on things like its trunk size, condition and lean, what stands beneath it, how easily it can be reached, the wood and debris, the stump and any permit, so two trees of the same height can differ in what they cost to remove. To describe your tree, request an estimate. This page lists no prices. Estimates are free.

In general, the cost of pruning depends on things like the number of trees and their size, the kind of pruning they need, how easily they can be reached near a house, a fence or a neighbor's yard, hazards such as decayed wood, storm damage or a limb over a building, how much brush and wood there is to haul away, and any approval a town or community association requires. Our tree trimming and pruning page describes the work. This page lists no prices. Estimates are free.

It depends on which government covers the address and on the tree's species and size. Around Charleston, the Town of Mount Pleasant, the City of Charleston, the Town of James Island, the City of Isle of Palms, the Town of Sullivan's Island and Charleston County, for unincorporated land, each have their own tree rules, and they protect trees at different sizes. A property in West Ashley, on James Island or on Johns Island may be in the City of Charleston, in unincorporated Charleston County or, on James Island, in the Town of James Island, so check the address with the city, town or county first. Confirm with the office before cutting.

The Town's Trees page says: “Any trees on residential lots 16 inches or greater in diameter when measuring 4 1/2 feet from the ground (except for Sweet Gum, Callary Pear varieties, River Birch, Mimosa, Chinaberry, Chinese Tallow, Camphor tree, White Poplar, Mulberry and Leyland Cypress) are protected and need approval before being removed.” The code sets that line in Table 156.702-2. The Town's Tree Protection and Removal page says pine trees 24 inches in diameter or greater are protected and need approval before removal (the code's rule for pines is § 156.703(D)), and that “All tree removal requests for historic trees (24 inches in diameter or larger) must include an arborist report.” The Trees page also says: “Trees located within special buffer areas, critical areas, easements, or rights-of-way may be protected regardless of size or species.” Confirm with the Town before cutting.

For homes, the City's Tree Removal Information page says: “Trees under 24” D.B.H. on lots that are zoned Single-Family Residential or Single and Two Family Residential or used exclusively for single-family or duplex dwellings do not require a permit for removal.” The code's residential exemption is Sec. 54-326(a). The same page also says that trees in the critical line buffer “are not permitted to be removed”; that on Daniel Island, removing a tree of 8 inches DBH or more in the Visual Buffer Zone “will require approval from the City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals – Site Design if certain conditions are met”; and that a residentially zoned lot of an acre or more must keep 15 protected trees per acre; if it can, the page says, a permit is not required. A grand tree is a different matter: removing one takes a variance, a special exception or staff approval (Sec. 54-327(a) and 54-329). Confirm with the City's Zoning Division before cutting.

In the City of Charleston, a grand tree is 24 inches or more in diameter, measured 4.5 feet above the ground (DBH), excluding pines and sweetgum, as the City's tree page and Sec. 54-327(a) word it; a protected tree is 8 inches DBH or more (Sec. 54-120). Removing a grand tree takes a variance, a special exception or staff approval (Sec. 54-327(a) and 54-329). The neighboring governments draw the line in their own codes: in unincorporated Charleston County a grand tree is 24 inches DBH or more except pine and sweetgum, and in the Town of James Island it is 18 inches DBH or more except pine and sweet gum.

In Mount Pleasant, you file a tree removal request online in OPAL, the Town's permitting system, and the Town's Trees page says “A non-refundable $50 permit application fee must be paid prior to acceptance and review of the tree removal request” (as of November 2026); Town staff then inspect the tree, which the Town calls “the first step toward issuance of a tree removal permit.” Next you sign in to OPAL to read the inspection comments and name the tree company that will remove the tree, and you submit the Town's mitigation affidavit if replacement is required; the Town's Business License office verifies that the company has a valid business license, and the permit, once issued, must be clearly displayed on site during the removal. A removal tied to construction is approved in the building permit process by the Town's Building Inspections Office instead. In the City of Charleston, you fill out the City's online Tree Removal Request and mark each tree with ribbon or tape; a member of the Zoning staff inspects the tree and contacts you with the result within 17 business days of the request, and if the tree meets the City's removal standards, a permit is issued.

Dead or dangerous trees are not automatically exempt: each government has its own process. In Mount Pleasant, requests to remove a tree in decline or damaged are filed online in OPAL, and under § 156.704(A) the Zoning Administrator may give written authorization to remove a tree that is severely damaged, of inferior quality, or in a hazardous condition or location posing a danger to private property, with replacement as the code specifies, and may require a written assessment by an ISA Certified Arborist, an ISA TRAQ Certified Arborist or, where structural damage is involved, a registered engineer. In the City of Charleston, under Sec. 54-329(c), a protected or grand tree that the Zoning Administrator finds hazardous, diseased or injured to the point of irreparable damage is approved for removal; the burden of proof rests with the applicant, who must provide documentation from a qualified arborist, and each live tree approved for removal this way is replaced with one recommended tree of an equivalent species. The other towns and the county have their own processes; confirm with the office before cutting.

Yes: in each, a community association's architectural review is separate from the government's rules. In Wild Dunes, the City of Isle of Palms' tree rules apply as on the rest of the island: its code says no tree may be cut or removed without a tree permit from the Zoning Administrator, and counts as a tree any woody plant of at least eight inches DBH, palm trees included, but not pine trees or the invasive pest species on Clemson Extension's list (§ 5-4-61(b) and § 5-4-2(49)). Separately, inside the Wild Dunes security gates (the Association's page lists exceptions, such as Destination Wild Dunes properties and commercial amenities), the Wild Dunes Community Association's Architectural Review Board standards (Rev. 03.30.2026) say: “All tree removal and pruning of trees/limbs 6" or larger in diameter at breast height (DBH) requires approval of the ARB prior to removal or pruning.” A Wild Dunes owner checks both. Daniel Island is in the City of Charleston, so the City's rules apply, Visual Buffer Zone included, and the community's Architectural Review Board separately requires its own approval; its 2026 application says “Work should not begin until the application has received approval from the ARB.”

There is no single set of months for every tree. Timing depends on the species, the tree's condition and the goal of the pruning. For crape myrtles, Clemson Extension's crape myrtle fact sheet says “There are instances in which heavy pruning is necessary, but typically, only light, if any, pruning is needed,” and “If pruning is necessary to stimulate new growth, prune in late winter or early spring.” For other trees, an arborist looks at the tree and recommends what it needs; our tree trimming and pruning page covers pruning Lowcountry trees.

Clemson Extension's pruning fact sheet says: “Proper palm management only recommends the removal of fronds that have turned completely brown and have no green color remaining in the frond or petiole.” It says removing fronds that still have green coloring reduces their photosynthetic rate, which may have a negative impact on the palm's growth and development; that fronds should be cut from the underside to avoid tearing the fibers of the palm's stem; and that the terminal bud is where new fronds develop, so damaging it may result in the death of the palm. The same guidance is on our tree trimming and pruning page.

It depends on the tree. We never recommend tree removal when it is not the best course of action; an arborist's recommendation decides between pruning and removal, and if disease, damage to a foundation or other circumstances call for removal, that is what we recommend. Our owner, Robert Thompson, is an ISA Certified Arborist, and estimates are free. See tree trimming and pruning and tree removal.

The City of Charleston's Tree Removal Information page says “A permit is not required to prune a Grand or Protected tree,” and that pruning “shall be done by a qualified tree service and performed using the National Arborist Association's Pruning Standards for Shade Trees.” Mount Pleasant's zoning code requires the latest ANSI A300 pruning specifications “in all pruning cases” and says “The pruning of specimen trees may be subject to PLAN Department approval” (§ 156.706(B)(4) and (5)). The Town's tree FAQ says dead limbs may be trimmed out of a tree and the canopy in accordance with ANSI standards, that “Typically, trimming up to 10% of the live canopy on an annual basis can be completed without damaging the tree,” and that a certified arborist should be consulted for any concerns or questions regarding tree trimming. Our tree trimming and pruning page summarizes the pruning rules of the nearby governments too.

First check which government covers the address: James Island is split among the Town of James Island, the City of Charleston and unincorporated Charleston County, and the County's rules apply only to unincorporated land. Both the Town of James Island's code and Charleston County's code regulate the pruning of grand trees. The Town's rules are on its tree information page, and the County's on its Zoning and Planning page. Confirm with the office before pruning a large tree.

Dominion Energy South Carolina says: “You should never hire a private contractor to work near power lines. Only qualified utility line clearance contractors who meet OSHA qualifications are legally permitted to work within 10 feet of power lines, or work on a tree that has branches within 10 feet of power lines.” OSHA says a worker engaged in tree care or removal “can be electrocuted if the worker, their tools, or their equipment (e.g., aerial lifts) comes into contact with an overhead electrical power line or underground utility line,” and also “when a tree limb or branch makes contact with an energized power line.” The International Society of Arboriculture's storm damage guide says: “Removing trees or branches in close proximity to electrical lines or structures requires knowledge and experience.” Dominion's advice: “Always call your electric provider before starting any work near power lines.”

A damaged tree near electrical wires or on a building is a safety hazard first. The International Society of Arboriculture's storm damage guide says: “Damaged trees may be in contact directly or indirectly with electrical wires which have the potential to cause injury or death from electrocution.” Dominion Energy South Carolina says to stay at least 30 feet away from downed lines and “consider them energized and dangerous,” to report a downed line to the utility, and: “If a downed power line presents clear and imminent danger to you, your property or to others, call 911 first.” For permits, the Town of James Island and unincorporated Charleston County say their zoning officials may waive the tree rules for a tree that “poses a serious and imminent threat to public safety” due to death, disease or damage from an emergency such as a storm, with documentation submitted afterward. Our storm and hurricane tree removal page covers the work after a storm.

Stay clear of the damaged tree. The International Society of Arboriculture's storm damage guide warns that damaged trees may be in contact with electrical wires that can cause injury or death from electrocution, and that cleanup started before consulting an arborist can mean working at height, retrieving fallen tree parts on buildings or in contact with utility services, and operating tree-cutting machinery, so do not start it yourself. Treat any downed power line as energized and stay at least 30 feet away, as Dominion Energy South Carolina says, and report it to the utility; if it puts anyone in clear and imminent danger, call 911 first. Then call a qualified arborist, and, as the South Carolina Department of Insurance advises, check your policy and consult your insurance agent or company before hiring tree removal services. Our storm and hurricane tree removal page covers the work itself.

It depends on the government. In Mount Pleasant, a storm does not lift the rules by itself: under § 156.704(B), during an emergency such as a hurricane, tornado or ice storm, Town Council or its assignee may waive the tree rules, and only then is “the cutting and removal of fallen and severely damaged trees” permitted, for as long as Town Council deems necessary. The City of Charleston's tree code has no storm waiver for homeowners; under Sec. 54-329(c), a protected or grand tree that the Zoning Administrator finds hazardous, diseased or injured to the point of irreparable damage is approved for removal, with the burden of proof on the applicant, who must provide documentation from a qualified arborist. Other towns and the county have their own rules for storm-damaged trees, so confirm with the office before cutting. Our storm and hurricane tree removal page covers the work itself.

It depends on the policy. The South Carolina Department of Insurance's storm preparedness guide says some homeowner's insurance policies will provide up to $500 of coverage for tree removal, a limit that “applies to all of the downed trees per loss and is not paid on a per tree basis.” It adds that if a tree falls on your home or another structure covered under your policy, the policy should cover the cost of removing the tree from the damaged structure, paid under the dwelling portion of the policy. Its advice: “Check your policy and consult with your insurance agent or company before hiring tree removal services.” Our storm and hurricane tree removal page covers the work itself.

A tree service is a business that does tree work, while ISA certification is a credential held by an individual who has met the International Society of Arboriculture's requirements, not by a company. ISA requires a candidate to have at least three years of full-time experience in arboriculture, or a combination of education and practical experience, and to pass a 200-question exam; the certification is valid for three years, and to keep it the arborist must recertify by passing the exam again or earning at least 30 continuing education units over the three-year period, and paying ISA's fee. When hiring for tree work, ISA's Why Hire an Arborist brochure advises checking for an ISA arborist credential, asking for proof of insurance and calling the insurance company, checking for local permits and licenses, getting more than one estimate and asking for references, and being wary of people who go door to door and offer bargains. At Palmetto Tree Service, the credential is the owner's: our owner and operator, Robert Thompson, is an ISA Certified Arborist.

The International Society of Arboriculture's Why Hire an Arborist page says “Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees,” and: “Consider hiring an arborist when your tree is dead or dying, an unacceptable risk, causing an obstruction, crowding other trees, or located in an area where there's new construction.” Some local rules call for one as well: Mount Pleasant's Tree Protection and Removal page says “All tree removal requests for historic trees (24 inches in diameter or larger) must include an arborist report,” and under the City of Charleston's Sec. 54-329(c), when a protected or grand tree is to be removed as hazardous, diseased or injured to the point of irreparable damage, the burden of proof rests with the applicant, who must provide documentation from a qualified arborist. Our owner and operator, Robert Thompson, is an ISA Certified Arborist, and he strives to be on every job site.

Use the ISA's Find an Arborist tool on TreesAreGood.org, which ISA says is “designed to help the public, employers, and industry stakeholders easily find and verify ISA-credentialed tree care professionals.” You can look up an arborist's ISA credential there.

Stump grinding is available for any tree we remove, and our policy is to grind stumps 6 to 8 inches below grade. Our stump grinding page has more.