Emergency Tree Services in Charleston, SC

Weather & timing

• Hurricanes and tropical storms Hugo (1989), Matthew, Irma, Dorian, Ian and Debby all caused widespread tree damage
• Saturated soils and king tides Waterlogged ground leads to root-plate failure of large oaks and pines
• Severe thunderstorms and lightning Daily summer storms split pines and oaks
• Occasional ice storms Rare but damaging, such as the February 2014 ice event

Best time: December through February is best: trees are dormant, it is outside hurricane season, and live oaks and other hardwoods respond best to winter pruning.

Permits & rules in Charleston

Charleston's tree ordinance protects grand trees (24 in. DBH or larger, pines and sweetgums excluded) and protected trees (8 in. DBH or larger, except multi-stem crape myrtles). On single-family or duplex lots, trees under 24 in. DBH may be removed without a permit, but any grand tree requires a city tree-inspection request and permit, normally approved only if the tree is hazardous, diseased, irreparably injured, or damaging a habitable building (an ISA-certified arborist report may be required). Commercial lots, lots with three or more units, and residential lots of one acre or more must maintain 15 protected trees per acre and need a permit to drop below that; trees in the OCRM critical-line buffer cannot be removed. Pruning grand or protected trees needs no permit but must follow industry pruning standards; street trees are maintained by the Urban Forestry Division.

Storm debris: Environmental Services collects yard waste curbside (limbs cut to 4-ft lengths and 4-in. diameter, leaves in paper bags, set out no more than two days early) and runs extra storm-debris passes after hurricanes with county contractors handling the large material; contractor-generated tree debris is not collected.