Sound familiar?

Tree Removal: the problems we hear most

“It’s way too close to the house to just cut down.”

“It’s way too close to the house to just cut down.”

How we help

Tell us what it’s near. Tight jobs are taken down in sections and lowered by rope, and the provider plans for your roof, lanai and fence first.
“I want the stump and the whole mess gone too.”

“I want the stump and the whole mess gone too.”

How we help

Check stump grinding in the same request, and ask for haul-away, so it’s all in one estimate instead of three.
“Do I even need a permit for this?”

“Do I even need a permit for this?”

How we help

You don’t need to know before you ask. City vs. county rules are flagged, and the provider confirms what applies before work starts.

When removal is the right call

Not every problem tree needs to come down — sometimes trimming solves it. Removal usually makes sense when:

The tree is dead, mostly dead, or has major decay in the trunk or root flare
It’s leaning toward the house, pool enclosure or driveway and the lean is new or getting worse
Roots are lifting the driveway, pool deck or foundation area
It was badly damaged in a storm and what’s left is unbalanced
You’re building, adding a pool, or clearing space and the tree is in the way
It’s an invasive species, like Brazilian pepper or Australian pine, that you want gone

Trees close to the house, pool or fence

In Fort Myers most removals aren’t out in open space. They’re in a backyard between the lanai, the pool enclosure and the neighbor’s fence. These jobs are usually taken down in sections, with limbs roped and lowered, rather than dropped whole.

Tell us what the tree is close to, whether there’s a side gate a machine could fit through, and whether there are overhead lines. That helps match you with a provider who has the right equipment and doesn’t send the wrong crew out first.

Common removals we see requests for

Laurel oaks. These are common in older Fort Myers neighborhoods. They live shorter lives than live oaks and did worse in UF/IFAS hurricane surveys, and they often decay from the inside.
Slash pines. The Lee County extension office has reported pines dying months or even years after Hurricane Ian. Needles that turn yellow, then brown within a few weeks, are a warning sign.
Queen palms and overgrown palms that are declining, crowding the house, or leaning.
Ficus and fast-growing shade trees whose roots have spread under hardscape.

Permits and approvals

Tree rules depend on where the property is. Inside Fort Myers city limits, removing a tree generally requires a city permit. Unincorporated Lee County (areas like Iona, Whiskey Creek, Gateway, Buckingham, Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers) and the Village of Estero each have their own rules. Under Florida Statute 163.045, a homeowner with written documentation from an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect that a tree is a danger can’t be required to get a local permit to remove it. The provider handling your job should confirm what applies before work starts.

If you live in a community with an HOA, check whether it needs to approve the removal as well — many in Lee County do.

Have a photo of the tree?

Send it with your request. It’s the fastest way to a realistic estimate.

Start my estimate

Simple, free, no obligation

How it works — about a minute of your time

1

Snap a photo, tell us what you need

Pick the service, add the address and a sentence. Photos straight from your phone help most.
2

We review it

We check the details and flag anything urgent. Then we note what the job needs: size, access, stumps, debris.
3

We connect you with a local pro

An independent Fort Myers-area tree-service provider suited to the job and your neighborhood.
4

You get your estimate

The provider contacts you directly and gives you an estimate. You decide whether to hire them.

Where we take requests

Tree Removal across Fort Myers, Naples & Lee County

Local context matters. Rules, property types and storm exposure all vary across the county. Pick your area for details.

We also accept requests from Fort Myers (city), San Carlos Park, Cypress Lake, Villas, Harlem Heights, Fort Myers Shores, Olga, Alva, Tice, Palmona Park and other Lee and Collier County communities. Not sure? Send your request and we’ll let you know.

FAQ