Platted in 1852 as the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi

Tree Removal in Kirkwood, MO

Old railroad-suburb lots, big oaks and maples, and a city that cares a great deal about its canopy.

We come out and look before we price, anywhere in City of St. Louis and St. Louis County
Each item on the estimate priced on its own
We confirm where the wood goes before work begins

Kirkwood's Rules Are Simpler Than People Think

Tree Removal in Kirkwood starts with a question many owners ask us: do I need a permit? For a tree on your own property, Kirkwood's own guide to its tree ordinance says no permit is required to take it down for any reason. The rules kick in elsewhere. Trees in the public right-of-way, which in Kirkwood is usually the strip between curb and sidewalk, or the front of the yard where there is no sidewalk, are city trees, and removing, topping or thinning one needs a permit from the city's Urban Forester. And if you are building an addition, a detached garage or a pool, the 35 percent tree canopy requirement applies to the lot.

A suburb that grew up around its trees

Kirkwood was platted in 1852 and named for James P. Kirkwood, chief engineer of the Pacific Railroad. Wikipedia calls it the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi. That history shows in the yards: many lots near downtown and the station have trees that are older than the houses beside them, and some that predate the street grid. The city's Greentree Festival, held in Kirkwood Park every September since 1961, began as an effort to replace trees lost to drought. Owners here tend to remove a tree only when there is a real reason, and we think that is right.

Good reasons to take one down

The tree is dead, or more than half the crown has died back
It is an ash in decline; the city's own brochure confirms emerald ash borer is in Kirkwood
A trunk has a crack, cavity or fungal conks at the base
The tree leans toward the house and the lean has changed recently
A remodeling project puts the foundation inside the tree's root zone and the tree would not survive the work anyway

Kirkwood Electric changes the plan

Kirkwood runs its own electric utility. The city's forestry page says trees behind or beside a home may sit in the electric utility easement, and Kirkwood Electric maintains those for line clearance. If a tree you want removed has limbs within reach of service drops or primary lines, part of the job may need coordination with Kirkwood Electric before we can work, and limbs touching lines are theirs to deal with first. Kirkwood residents submit a line clearance request form to the utility for that.

Clearance you are responsible for

Even if you keep every tree, Kirkwood asks owners to keep branches off sidewalks and streets: 7 feet over walkways, 12 feet at the curb line and 14 to 15 feet over the center of the roadway, plus a clear sight line at signs and signals. That is often the first thing we fix on a visit, and it is a light pruning job compared with a removal.

How a Kirkwood job usually goes

We walk the lot with you, mark which trees are private and which may be city-owned, and note any utility lines. You get a written estimate listing each tree, how it will be taken down, and whether stump grinding and hauling are included. Call (314) 668-1571 or send the form and we will set a time. Get a free estimate

What Kirkwood Homeowners Should Know

Private trees: no permit. Kirkwood's guide to its tree ordinance states that no permit is required to take down a tree on private property for any reason. Work beyond nuisance clearance pruning on right-of-way trees, including removal, topping and thinning, requires an Urban Forester permit.
35 percent canopy. A 35 percent tree canopy requirement applies to new homes and to existing properties doing work that needs a building permit, such as an addition, detached garage or pool. Fence, driveway and sewer lateral permits trigger only tree protection rules.
City tree program. The city removes about 125 city trees a year for health, decline or hazard, and since 2018 has pruned city trees on an eight-year cycle. Healthy right-of-way trees can only be removed with city permission, at the owner's expense.
Owner-occupied, high-value homes. Census QuickFacts lists a 77.2 percent owner-occupied rate and a median owner-occupied home value of $451,400 across 9.18 square miles, with 29,461 residents at the 2020 census.

Dead & Ash Tree Removal in St. Louis, MO

Our Services in Kirkwood, MO

Kirkwood Questions

Do I need a Kirkwood permit to remove a tree in my backyard?

No, not for a tree on private property, according to the city's own ordinance guide. A permit is needed for right-of-way trees, and if your project needs a building permit, the 35 percent canopy rule applies to the lot. We can help you tell which situation you are in.

The tree by my curb is dead. Who removes it?

If it is in the right-of-way, it is a city tree, and Kirkwood removes hazardous right-of-way trees at no cost to the homeowner. Call the Forestry Division to request an inspection. Removing a healthy city tree for other reasons takes city permission and is at your expense.

Limbs are rubbing the power line behind my house. Is that your job or Kirkwood Electric's?

Start with Kirkwood Electric's line clearance request. Trees in the electric utility easement are maintained by the utility for line clearance. Once the lines are clear, we can take care of the rest of the tree.

Can you remove a tree before my addition goes in?

Yes, but plan it with your builder. A building permit brings in the 35 percent canopy requirement, so removing trees before you apply does not get around it. It is better to settle which trees stay and which go as part of the plan.

Free Estimates in Kirkwood, MO

Free estimates in Kirkwood, from Meacham Park to the Meramec bluffs.

Call (314) 668-1571 Free Estimate