Tree Removal in Moore, OK

Permits & rules in Moore

Moore has no permit requirement for removing trees on private property: the municipal code contains no tree-removal, protected-tree or tree-size ordinance, and it actually obligates owners to act, since Sec. 8-210 makes it unlawful to let a dead or diseased tree stand on a lot or along the adjacent sidewalk, street or alley, with 45 days' written notice before the city removes it and bills or liens the owner (Secs. 8-211 to 8-216, Ord. 812(16)). Owners must also keep trees in the parking strip and along streets trimmed to at least 10 ft above the roadway and 8 ft above sidewalks (Sec. 14-103). No separate permit for working on trees in the public right-of-way was found in the code.

Storm debris: Every Moore residence gets two free scheduled Big Trash pickups per year (tree branches must be under 10 ft long, placed within 10 ft of the curb; schedule at 405-793-5070) plus one free landfill voucher per year from City Hall, and the city has run special curbside debris collection after its major tornadoes.

Trees we see most in Moore

• Eastern redcedar Native juniper that has overrun pastures and lots; a wildfire fuel and bagworm host that many owners clear
• Bradford (Callery) pear Overplanted in Moore subdivisions; splits apart in ice and wind and is now considered invasive in Oklahoma
• Silver maple Fast shade tree that cracks and sheds limbs in Moore's spring storms and ice
• Siberian and lacebark elm Common drought-tolerant yard trees; Siberian elms are brittle and drop limbs constantly
• Pecan Native bottomland tree and backyard favorite; heavy, long limbs break under ice and in high winds
• Post oak and blackjack oak Cross Timbers natives on sandy ground; slow-growing and intolerant of construction damage

Weather & timing

• Tornadoes Moore has been hit by violent tornadoes in 1999 (F5), 2003, 2010 and 2013 (EF5); spring storms strip and uproot whole neighborhoods of trees
• Ice storms The October 2020 and December 2007 ice storms shattered canopies across the OKC metro, especially pears, elms and pecans
• Straight-line winds and hail Severe thunderstorms with 70-90 mph downbursts and large hail are routine from April through June
• Drought and heat Multi-year droughts (2011, 2022) kill shallow-rooted trees and trigger oak canker and borer attacks

Best time: Winter dormancy (December-February) is the best time for removals and storm-hardening pruning in Moore, done ahead of the April-June tornado season, and oaks should be left alone from February through June because OSU Extension warns oak wilt and other pathogens spread through fresh spring wounds.