Tree Service in Rochester Hills, 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 Rochester Hills
A lot of Rochester Hills was woodland before it was subdivision, and the developers left the good trees standing. So you get mature red oak and sugar maple in back yards, trees that grew up in a forest, surrounded and sheltered by other trees.
That history matters. A forest-grown tree puts its energy into height rather than into a strong low trunk, because it never had to stand alone. Clear the trees around it and it is suddenly exposed to wind it was never built for. When one of these fails it is rarely at the base. It is a long limb sixty feet up, or a fork that splits.
Rochester Hills regulates trees 6 inches and wider, measured across the trunk at chest height. But occupied single-family lots under one acre are exempt, which covers most homeowners in the city. Right-of-way trees and designated landmark trees always need a permit regardless. We confirm with the city before we schedule non-emergency work. Ordinances change and depend on your parcel, so the city’s answer is the one to go by. Our permit guide compares the rules across the county.
Why oak timing matters more here than almost anywhere
Rochester Hills has enough oak that oak wilt is a real risk rather than a theoretical one.
Oak wilt is a fungus that moves two ways: underground between trees whose roots have grafted together, and above ground on beetles drawn to fresh cuts. The second route is the one you control. A pruning cut in June is an open invitation. The same cut in January is nothing at all.
A red oak that catches it can be dead within a few weeks, and because the roots are often connected, losing one can mean losing a group. We keep all non-urgent oak work here outside mid-April to mid-July, without exception.
What we do in Rochester Hills
We assess the big trees by climbing them, because on a sixty-foot oak the view from the ground tells you very little. Most trees here are worth keeping, so much of the work is crown cleaning and reduction. When one does have to come out, we are set up for big timber, with a crane when a climber cannot work safely.
We grind the stump afterward so the lawn can close over, and we answer storm calls at any hour and write the work up for your insurer.
Pruning & tree trimming → Tree removal → Stump grinding → Emergency response →
Forest oaks and river trees
Red oak and sugar maple through the wooded subdivisions, hickory mixed in, and willow and cottonwood down along the Clinton River where the ground stays wet. The river-corridor trees are worth a look after any high-water year. Saturated ground loosens roots that were holding fine the season before.
What removal costs in Rochester Hills
Removals here typically run $600 to $2,500. Woodland oaks go past that. They are tall, heavy, and often behind a house, and the safe way down is a crane taking the weight rather than a climber lowering it. See the cost guide for what moves the price.
From our Google reviews
“We have used Tree Pro’s many times and have always been 💯 percent satisfied with their services. Rob and his crew professional, knowledgeable, and courteous. They get the job done and leave the area cleaner than it was before. I recommend Rob and Tree Pro’s for any of your tree trimming or removal needs!”
Nicole K., October 2026
Read all 16 reviews on Google. Tree Pros, LLC is licensed and insured, and Rob gives every Rochester Hills 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 Rochester Hills?
Usually not. The city regulates trees 6 inches and wider, measured across the trunk at chest height, but occupied single-family lots under one acre are exempt, and that covers most homeowners in Rochester Hills. If your lot is over an acre, or the parcel is vacant or not a single-family home, the 6-inch rule can apply and a permit may be needed even for one tree. Two categories need a permit no matter the lot: trees in the public right of way, which belong to the city, and designated landmark trees. A tree that has failed in a storm is handled as an emergency rather than a permit question. We confirm your parcel with the city before we schedule anything that is not an emergency, so the quote already reflects what the ordinance requires. If the city tells you something different from this page, go with the city.
How can you tell if a tree needs to be removed?
Rarely from the ground. The things that decide it are either high up or underground: decay at a fork, a crack running through a limb, a root plate that has started to lift. A dead tree is obvious and does need to come down, and the sooner the better, because dead wood goes brittle and gets harder to work on. A living tree that looks a bit thin usually does not need removing and quite often has a fixable problem, such as a limb that needs weight taken off or a fork that can be cabled. On the forest-grown oaks and maples in Rochester Hills the weak point is often sixty feet up, where nobody standing on the lawn can see it. That is what a climbing inspection is for. Rob climbs the tree, tells you what is actually wrong, and quotes the fix either way.
How much does tree removal cost in Rochester Hills?
Most removals in Rochester Hills come in between $600 and $2,500. The subdivisions were built around existing woodland, so many back yards hold tall red oaks and sugar maples that grew up sheltered by other trees and put their energy into height. A tree like that, heavy and often behind a house, comes down with a crane taking the weight rather than a climber lowering it, and that is what carries a job past the top of the range. Smaller trees with clear ground beside them sit near the bottom. Most homeowners here are exempt from the permit rule, which keeps scheduling simple. Crown reduction or cabling is far cheaper than removal and is often the right answer for a healthy oak with one bad limb, so ask about that first. The stump is priced on its own.
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.
Next door we cover Troy and Bloomfield Hills, and the rest of Oakland County.
Free estimates across Rochester Hills.
Rob climbs the tree before recommending anything on the big ones. Most of what matters cannot be seen from the lawn.
Call or Text 248-672-8058Request a Free Estimate