Tree Service in Pontiac, 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 Pontiac
Drive through Pontiac in winter and you can pick out the ash trees without getting out of the car. They are the bare grey ones with no fine twigs left, and there are a lot of them.
The emerald ash borer went through years ago. Trees that were never treated died, and a great many are still standing in back yards because removing them costs money and they have not fallen on anything yet. That is the situation we are called into most often here, and it is one where waiting costs more.
Good news for most homeowners. Pontiac’s woodlands ordinance (Chapter 130) expressly exempts small tracts with an existing single-family home, so trees inside your own property line are generally your decision. The ordinance does apply on vacant, undeveloped and non-residential land, where trees 6 inches and wider need a permit. And the strip between sidewalk and street holds city trees either way. If you are not sure which side of the line your tree stands on, we sort that out during the free estimate. Rules change and depend on the parcel, so the city has the last word. Our permit guide covers the neighboring cities.
Why a dead ash gets more expensive every year
If you own a dead ash, this is the one thing to know.
A dead ash does not stay the same. The wood dries out and turns brittle, and it happens faster in ash than in almost anything else we work on. While a tree is still sound enough to climb, a person can go up it, rig the limbs and take it down in an orderly way.
Once it is too brittle to trust, nobody is climbing it. It has to come down with a crane or a lift, and that can double the cost of the same tree. The bill for waiting three years is not the same bill you would have paid today.
Emerald ash borer guide → Is my tree dying? →
What we do in Pontiac
Dead ash removal is most of what we do in Pontiac. On the tighter city lots the tree has to be roped down piece by piece rather than felled, and we grind the stump out while we are there.
Storm cleanup around the clock, photographed and documented for your insurer. Crown reduction on the silver maples that hang over garages. And straight answers about which trees actually need to go. A thin canopy is not the same thing as a dead tree. And if someone suggests topping a silver maple, here is why topping does more harm.
Tree removal → Emergency response → Stump grinding → Pruning & tree trimming →
Maples, locust and dead ash
Silver and Norway maple, honey locust along the streets, and green ash, most of it dead now. Silver maple is the other one to watch: fast growing, soft, and inclined to drop long limbs onto garages in a summer storm.
What removal costs in Pontiac
Pricing in Pontiac usually runs $600 to $2,500. A dead ash in an open back yard, taken down while it can still be climbed, is usually near the bottom of that. The same tree left another few years until it needs a crane is a different job at a different price. The cost guide explains what else moves the number.
From our Google reviews
“They did a great job. Quoted right away. Very reasonable pricing. Came right out and took care of the job. Cleaned up after. Great experience.”
Alex M., August 2026
Read all 16 reviews on Google. Tree Pros, LLC is licensed and insured, and Rob gives every Pontiac 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 Pontiac, MI?
Usually not. Pontiac’s woodlands ordinance (Chapter 130) exempts small tracts with an existing single-family home, so a tree inside your own property line is yours to deal with, whatever its size or condition. The ordinance does apply on vacant, undeveloped and non-residential land. There, trees 6 inches and wider measured across the trunk need a permit before removal, so a lot you own next door, or a commercial property, is treated differently from your house lot. Whatever the parcel, the strip between the sidewalk and the street holds city trees, and those are not yours to remove or prune. If you are not sure which side of the line a tree stands on, we work that out when we come to quote. Rules change and depend on the parcel, so if the city says otherwise, the city wins.
Will homeowners insurance pay to remove a dead tree?
Generally not. Most policies cover removal after a tree has fallen and caused damage to something the policy insures, such as the house, the garage or a fence. They do not pay for preventive removal of a dead or dying tree that is still standing, because insurers treat that as maintenance. That is worth knowing before you wait. The dead ash in the yard is your cost either way, and the cost only goes up as the wood turns brittle and the tree becomes a crane job instead of a climb. If a tree does come down in a storm, photograph everything before anything is moved, and keep the pictures for the adjuster. We document storm work for your insurer as a matter of routine. Our storm damage guide covers what to do in the first hour.
How much does tree removal cost in Pontiac, MI?
Most Pontiac removals cost $600 to $2,500. For a dead ash, timing sets the price more than anything else. Taken down while the wood is still sound enough to climb, an ash in an open back yard usually lands near the bottom of that range. Left standing for another few years until the limbs are too brittle to trust, the same tree has to come down with a crane or a lift, and that can double the cost. On the tighter city lots, where the tree has to be roped down piece by piece over a garage or a fence, expect the middle of the range. Silver maples with long limbs over a roof are priced the same way. Stump grinding is extra, and because most Pontiac homeowners need no permit, there is rarely paperwork to wait on.
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 cover Waterford and Bloomfield Hills. Our Oakland County page lists the rest.
Get the dead ash down while it can still be climbed.
Free on-site estimates across Pontiac. Rob will tell you which trees actually need to go and which ones do not.
Call or Text 248-672-8058Request a Free Estimate