Tree Service in Commerce Township, MI
Written by Robert Burgund, ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A · Updated September 2026
- 5.0 Stars · 16 Google reviews
- ISA Certified Arborist MI-4857A
- Oakland County Since 2013
- Licensed & Insured
What tree work looks like in Commerce Township
Commerce is lakes and wetland: Commerce Lake, Long Lake and a lot of low ground in between. Most of the tree work here happens within sight of water.
That changes the job in two ways. It changes how the trees grow and fail, because roots in soft wet ground spread wide and shallow and tip rather than snap. And it changes what is legally possible, because the setbacks and the state wetland rules apply whether or not there is a tree ordinance. On a shoreline lot both questions get answered before anything is scheduled.
Commerce’s protections run through wetlands and water rather than a woodland tree ordinance. Article 32 of the zoning ordinance sets the setbacks: approved improvements, meaning anything you build or install, must stay 25 feet from streams, ponds and lakes, and 15 feet from a wetland edge, and the wetlands themselves are regulated by the state through EGLE. Given how much shoreline and wetland the township holds, a lot of parcels are touched by one rule or the other. We make the township call before we quote. Ordinances move and parcels differ, so the township’s answer beats ours. Our permit guide covers the neighboring communities.
Where the wetland line actually falls
The setbacks are easy to understand and surprisingly hard to apply, because the wetland edge is rarely where people assume.
Ground that looks like ordinary back lawn in August can be mapped wetland, because the mapping follows soil and vegetation rather than how wet it happens to be the day you look at it. So a tree that appears to be well clear of everything can sit inside the 15-foot line.
That is a state matter through EGLE, not a township one, and it is not something to guess at. The cost of being wrong lands on you, not the crew, so we find the line first.
What we do in Commerce Township
We rig shoreline removals away from the water and work the drier upland ground separately. We also assess the fast-growing shoreline species before storm season rather than after it, and reduce the crowns on the ones that have grown out over a roof or a dock. Our list of warning signs before fall storm season shows what to look for yourself.
We grind stumps where the setbacks allow it. Storm work runs around the clock right through the season. The shallow-rooted lake trees go first in every big wind, and we photograph the damage for your insurer before anything is moved.
Tree removal → Emergency response → Pruning & tree trimming → Stump grinding →
Soft wood by the water, oak up the hill
Willow, silver maple and cottonwood along the shorelines, white oak and pine on the higher ground. The three shoreline species all grow fast in wet soil and all have soft wood, which is why they dominate the storm callouts here.
What removal costs in Commerce Township
Budget $600 to $2,500 for most removals around the lakes. On lake lots the price is set by access and by the setbacks: how close we can bring equipment, and whether the stump can be ground where it stands or has to be left. The cost guide explains the rest.
From our Google reviews
“Tree Pros removed several trees at my work place and trimmed a couple of trees at my home. Rob, his team, and work fleet are professional in appearance and excellent in performance. They did a great job and cleaned up the yard before leaving. If you are in need of tree work, this is the company you call.”
Mike P., July 2026
Read all 16 reviews on Google. Tree Pros, LLC is licensed and insured, and Rob gives every Commerce Township estimate in person, free. Hours: Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday for emergencies.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Commerce Township?
There is no general woodland tree ordinance in Commerce Township, so a tree well inside a dry residential lot is normally your decision. The water rules are what catch people. Article 32 of the zoning ordinance requires approved improvements to stay 25 feet from streams, ponds and lakes and 15 feet from a wetland edge, and the wetlands themselves are regulated by the state through EGLE rather than the township. Because the wetland line follows soil and plants rather than standing water, a tree on what looks like ordinary lawn can still fall inside it. So if your tree is anywhere near water or low ground, that gets checked first. We make that call before we quote, and the price you get already allows for the setbacks, including whether the stump can be ground in place.
Who pays when a neighbor’s tree falls on my property?
In Michigan the general rule is that a healthy tree brought down by a storm is treated as an act of nature. Each owner deals with the damage on their own property through their own insurer, even when the trunk stood next door. That changes if the tree was visibly dead or hazardous and the owner knew about it and did nothing. Then negligence can come into it, and the owner of the tree may be responsible for what it hit. That is why a written assessment, with a date on it, is worth having on both sides of the fence. If you are worried about a neighbor’s tree, tell them in writing and keep a copy. If the tree is yours, having an arborist look at it and document its condition protects you. Our Michigan tree law guide covers the details.
How much does tree removal cost in Commerce Township?
Most removals around the Commerce lakes come in between $600 and $2,500. On a shoreline lot two things set the price more than the size of the tree. The first is access: whether we can bring equipment to the tree or have to carry everything out through a side yard and around a deck. The second is the setbacks, which decide whether a stump can be ground where it stands or has to be left. Willow, silver maple and cottonwood are fast growers with soft wood, so they are often big for their age, and a large one leaning over a dock or a seawall comes down in small pieces rigged back from the water. Storm-damaged trees are priced the same way once the property is safe. Rob walks down to the water before pricing anything.
Written by Robert Burgund
ISA Certified Arborist · MI-4857A
Rob owns Tree Pros, LLC in Bloomfield Township and runs every job himself. He has climbed and cared for trees in Oakland County since 2013. More about Rob and how we work.
We also work Walled Lake and Milford, and the rest of Oakland County.
Free estimates across Commerce Township.
Rob walks the shoreline before quoting. On these lots the setbacks decide the job as much as the tree does.
Call or Text 248-672-8058Request a Free Estimate