Dead Ash Tree Removal Cost in Michigan
Updated September 2026 · Written by Rob Burgund, ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A
- ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A
- Working in Oakland County since 2013
- Licensed and insured
- 5.0 stars from 15 Google reviews
Written by Rob Burgund
ISA Certified Arborist · MI-4857A
Rob owns Tree Pros, LLC in Bloomfield Township and gives every estimate in person. He has been doing tree work in Oakland County since 2013. More about Rob and Tree Pros, or verify the certification in ISA’s public directory.
Why Michigan has so many dead ash trees
Michigan is where emerald ash borer first appeared in North America, and this region has lost most of the ash that was never treated with an injection program. More than 10 million ash trees have been killed by the beetle in southeastern Michigan alone, according to a Michigan State University Extension publication distributed through Oakland County municipalities. If you own a mature ash that was never treated, there is a real chance it is already dead or dying. Our emerald ash borer guide covers how to tell, and whether treatment can still save a lightly infested tree.
How to tell if it is already too late to treat
A lightly infested ash can sometimes be saved with a trunk injection program, but once more than about half the canopy is gone, treatment stops being worth it and removal is the realistic option. Signs the tree has passed that point include thin, sparse leaves across most of the crown, bark falling away in patches to reveal D-shaped exit holes underneath, and dead branches at the top of the tree spreading downward. If you are unsure which side of that line your tree is on, that judgment call, treat or remove, is exactly what a short on-site look answers, and it costs nothing to ask.
Why dead ash costs more to remove than a live tree
- The wood turns brittle fast. Once an ash dies, the wood dries out and loses the flexibility that lets a live tree bend under load instead of snapping. A dead ash limb can fail with no warning, in a light breeze or on a calm day, which changes how carefully, and how slowly, the tree has to be taken apart.
- Climbing gets riskier as time passes. A dead ash that is still structurally sound can often be climbed and rigged down in sections, the same as any other removal. The longer it stands, the more that changes. Once the wood is too unreliable to trust a climber’s weight or a rigging point, the job needs a bucket truck or a crane instead, which costs more.
- Drop-zone control matters more. Because brittle limbs can shear unpredictably during cutting, more of the job goes into controlling exactly where each piece lands, rigging it down rather than letting it fall, which takes longer than a straightforward drop.
- Bigger trees, bigger jump to crane pricing. A dead ash over about 80 feet, or one too far gone to climb safely at any height, usually needs a crane. Crane-assisted removal starts at $3,500, against $600 to $2,500 for a typical climbed removal.
What dead ash removal actually costs
| Situation | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small dead ash, under 30 feet, good access | $300 to $600 |
| Medium dead ash, 30 to 60 feet | $600 to $1,400 |
| Large dead ash, 60 to 80 feet | $1,200 to $2,500 |
| Over 80 feet, or too brittle to climb (crane) | $2,000 to $4,000 or more, crane work starts at $3,500 |
| Stump grinding | $125 per foot of stump diameter |
Where a specific tree falls in these ranges depends on access, what is underneath it, and how far past dead it already is. A dead ash standing alone in an open back yard, removed while the wood is still sound enough to climb, lands near the bottom of its size range. The same tree over a garage, or left two more seasons until it needs a crane, moves toward the top or beyond it.
Permits and insurance
Whether a permit is required for a dead ash depends entirely on your city; there is no statewide rule for private property in Michigan. Several Oakland County communities exempt dead trees, and some exempt ash specifically, from their removal-permit requirements, while others require an application regardless of the tree’s condition. Our permit guide covers the rules by community, and we confirm the specifics as part of every estimate.
Homeowners insurance generally pays to remove a tree once it has fallen and damaged something the policy covers, a roof, a garage, a fence. It typically does not pay to remove a dead ash preemptively, before it falls, since insurers treat that as maintenance rather than storm damage. That gap is worth knowing: the cost of taking a dead ash down is yours either way, and waiting only moves the number up, not down.
Can my ash still be saved? →Full tree removal cost guide →Permits by community →If it has already come down →
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to remove a dead ash tree in Michigan?
Most dead ash removals in Oakland County run $600 to $2,500, the same general range as removing any tree of comparable size. A small dead ash in an open yard can run as little as $300 to $600. A large one that needs a crane because of size or brittleness can run $2,000 to $4,000 or more, with crane-assisted work starting at $3,500.
Why is removing a dead ash more expensive than I expected?
Usually because the wood has gone past the point where it can be safely climbed. Dead ash gets brittle quickly, and once a tree is too unreliable to trust a climber’s weight, the job shifts from a climbed removal to a bucket truck or crane job, which costs more regardless of the tree’s actual size.
Should I remove a dead ash tree even if it has not fallen yet?
Yes, and the sooner the better. A standing dead ash only becomes more hazardous and more expensive to remove as time passes; it does not stabilize or get safer on its own. If it is near a house, driveway or anywhere people or vehicles pass underneath, treat it as a priority rather than something to revisit next year.
Will my homeowners insurance pay to remove a dead ash tree?
Generally not before it falls. Most policies cover removal after a tree has damaged something covered, not preventative removal of a tree that is simply dead or dying, which insurers treat as normal property maintenance. Once a dead ash does fall and cause damage, photograph everything before it is moved for your claim.
Do I need a permit to remove a dead ash tree?
It depends on your city. Several Oakland County communities specifically exempt dead or ash trees from their tree-removal permit requirements, while others require an application regardless of species or condition. We check the rule for your specific address as part of the estimate, so you are not guessing.
Have a dead ash that needs to come down?
Free on-site estimate, written on the spot, across Oakland County.