The 6 Best Tree Services in Tampa, FL (2026)
We analyzed every established tree company serving Hillsborough and Pinellas counties — comparing verified Google review scores, review volume, services, and emergency availability — to rank the crews Tampa homeowners trust most.
Published by Tree Services Marketing — the marketing team behind some of the fastest-growing tree companies in Florida.
Ratings and review counts verified on Google in July 2026. Sorted by our composite score, which weights review volume alongside rating — a 5.0 from 749 customers is a far stronger signal than a 5.0 from 30.
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Tampa tree services compared
| # | Company | Google rating | Reviews | Best for | Service area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Independent Tree Service, Inc. |
★★★★★ 5.0 |
749 |
Best overall |
Tampa & surrounding cities |
|
2 |
Albert & Ellis Landscaping & Tree Service |
★★★★½ 4.9 |
387 |
Best for tree work plus landscaping |
Greater Tampa |
|
3 |
Arbor Bay Tree Service |
★★★★½ 4.9 |
382 |
Best for permitted oak removals |
Hillsborough County |
|
4 |
Gulf Coast Trees |
★★★★★ 5.0 |
265 |
Best for 24/7 storm response |
South Tampa & Bay area |
|
5 |
Sunrise Tree Service |
★★★★½ 4.9 |
206 |
Best for honest assessments |
South Tampa |
|
6 |
D&Y Tree Services |
★★★★½ 4.9 |
200 |
Best for full-service jobs |
North Tampa & Hillsborough |
The best tree services in Pensacola, ranked
Ratings and review counts are pulled from each company’s public Google Business Profile and were verified at the time of publication.
1
Independent Tree Service, Inc.
Services
Trimming, removal, arborist diagnosis, stump grinding, root pruning, air spading, lightning protection
Service area
Tampa and surrounding cities
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Standout
ISA-certified arborists on staff since 1978; leadership sits on the ISA Florida Chapter board
Is this your business? Claim your profile →
2
Albert & Ellis Landscaping & Tree Service
Services
Tree trimming, removal, stump grinding, palm relocation, sod and landscaping
Service area
Greater Tampa
Hours
Open 24 hours
Standout
Single crew for tree removal and the landscape restoration afterward
Is this your business? Claim your profile →
3
Arbor Bay Tree Service
Services
Structural pruning, large oak removal, stump grinding, arborist estimates, permit filing
Service area
Hillsborough County
Hours
Mon–Thu 7:30 AM–5:00 PM, Fri 7:30 AM–4:00 PM
Standout
Files county tree permits on the homeowner’s behalf, often same-day
Is this your business? Claim your profile →
Own a tree company in Tampa? Every business on this list has 200+ Google reviews. That is not luck — it is a system running in the background of each of these companies. We build that system for tree services across Florida.
4
Gulf Coast Trees
A perfect 5.0 across 265 reviews and genuinely open 24 hours, which matters in a city where hurricane season reliably drops oaks onto roofs. Reviewers describe consultations within days of first contact and detailed walk-throughs explaining which trees actually need work. Storm cleanup and canopy raising come up often in recent reviews.
Services
Storm damage cleanup, tree removal, canopy raising, oak trimming, stump grinding
Service area
South Tampa and the Bay area
Hours
Open 24 hours
Standout
Perfect rating with true round-the-clock emergency availability
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5
Sunrise Tree Service
Services
Tree trimming, removal, palm removal, storm limb cleanup, stump grinding
Service area
South Tampa
Hours
Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–5:00 PM, Sat–Sun 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Standout
Owner performs assessments personally and regularly advises against unnecessary cutting
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6
D&Y Tree Services
Services
Tree trimming, removal, stump grinding, fence removal and installation, permit handling
Service area
North Tampa and Hillsborough County
Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–7:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
Standout
Removes and reinstalls fence panels for access rather than subcontracting it out
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What tree work costs in Tampa (2026)
| Job type | Typical Tampa range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
|
Small tree removal (under 30 ft) |
$300 – $600 |
Crape myrtle, young pine, ornamentals |
|
Medium tree removal (30–60 ft) |
$600 – $1,300 |
Water oak, mid-size pine, laurel oak |
|
Large tree removal (60–80 ft) |
$1,200 – $2,750 |
Mature live oak; higher near structures |
|
Crane-assisted or hazard removal |
$2,500 – $5,000+ |
Old-growth oak, decayed trunk, tight lot access |
|
Palm removal |
$250 – $1,500 |
Height; sabal and Washingtonia over 50 ft cost most |
|
Palm trimming |
$100 – $500 per palm |
Height and frond count |
|
Tree trimming / canopy raising |
$225 – $800 |
Canopy size and proximity to power lines |
|
Stump grinding |
$175 – $550 per stump |
Diameter at ground level; palm stumps often cost more |
|
Emergency / storm removal |
Add 25–50% |
Surcharge reflects crew demand and hazard conditions |
|
County tree removal permit |
$81.65 |
Covers any number of trees on a 5-acre parcel |
Always confirm stump grinding separately. It is a different machine and a separate step, and it is almost never bundled into a removal quote unless the estimate says so explicitly. Homeowners who assume otherwise get a surprise line item.
Tampa tree removal permits: read this before you cut
The rules that apply to your yard
- City of Tampa: any tree 5 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH, measured 4.5 feet up the trunk) requires a permit before removal. All cypress and mangrove trees require a permit regardless of size. This applies to private property, not just the right of way.
- Grand Trees (32 inches DBH or greater): removal requires special circumstances. If the tree is not hazardous, approval may require a Variance Review Board, City Council, or another public process.
- Mitigation: all city removals are subject to replacement planting, sized by the tree removed and what remains on the property. If there is no room to replant, you can pay into the city tree fund instead.
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County: permits run $81.65 for any number of trees on a parcel up to 5 acres, with additional acreage at $24.93 each. Apply through the HillsGovHub portal. Grand Oaks (34 inches DBH or greater, with a qualifying condition rating) never qualify for the expedited path.
- Dangerous trees: Florida Statute 163.045 lets residential owners remove a documented dangerous tree without a local permit — but only with written documentation from an ISA-certified arborist or licensed landscape architect stating the tree poses an unacceptable risk. Get that letter before the chainsaw starts, not after.
- Exempt species: certain invasives and species like citrus can be removed without a permit at any size. The city and county each maintain current lists.
- Pruning is not removal: routine pruning generally needs no permit. County guidance is to stay under roughly 25% of the canopy, follow ANSI A300 standards, and never top a tree.
Five questions to ask before you hire
- Door-to-door solicitation right after a storm, especially with out-of-state plates and cash-only pricing.
- Quotes dramatically below everyone else’s — usually it means no insurance, no disposal, or no intention of finishing.
- Large deposits demanded up front. Established local companies typically bill on completion.
- No written estimate, no reviews anywhere, no physical address.
Red flags in the Tampa market
- Post-storm door-knockers. After a hurricane, out-of-state crews flood Tampa Bay. Many are uninsured and gone before problems surface.
- Cash only, large deposit up front. Legitimate companies invoice and rarely need more than a modest deposit. Pay the balance when the work satisfies you.
- No written estimate. A verbal number is not a quote. Get scope, cleanup, stump grinding, and permit responsibility itemized.
- Pressure to remove a healthy tree. If a company recommends taking down a tree that looks fine, get a second opinion from a certified arborist before agreeing.
- Topping. Any crew that proposes cutting a canopy back to stubs is damaging the tree and violating industry standards.
When to schedule in Tampa
Hurricane season runs June through November, and it drives the entire local calendar. Book preventive trimming in late winter through early spring — trees are dormant, crews have visibility without foliage, and you are not competing with emergency calls. Avoid pruning oaks in spring during sap beetle season.
The worst time to call for non-urgent work is mid-storm-season, when every crew in Hillsborough County is backlogged on emergencies and prices carry a surcharge. If you have a tree leaning toward your roof, deal with it in March, not September.
What the top-ranked companies do differently
We research tree companies across Florida for a living. The gap between the six above and the forty we did not list is rarely about skill with a chainsaw.
They run a review system, not a review habit
Independent Tree Service has 749 reviews. The median Tampa tree company has fewer than 40. That gap is not thirty years of luck — it is a process that asks every satisfied customer, at the right moment, in a way that makes leaving a review take fifteen seconds.
They answer the phone
Tree work is urgent by nature. A homeowner with a limb on the roof calls three companies and hires whoever picks up. The companies at the top of this list either answer directly or return calls within the hour — and several are genuinely staffed 24 hours.
Their Google Business Profile is actually built out
Service lists, real hours, photos of completed jobs, responses to every review. Google’s local ranking rewards completeness, and most tree companies leave half the profile blank.
They show up in more than one place
Map pack, organic results, and comparison pages like this one. Homeowners rarely hire from the first result they see; they hire the company they see repeatedly.
Recent result: a client ranked on page one for “tree removal niceville” in 45 days. Ask us how.
Frequently asked questions
How much does tree removal cost in Tampa?
Most Tampa removals run $400 to $2,750 depending on height, species, and proximity to structures. A small tree under 30 feet typically costs $300 to $600; a mature live oak between 60 and 80 feet runs $1,200 to $2,750. Crane-assisted and hazard removals start around $2,500 and climb from there. Stump grinding is quoted separately at $175 to $550.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Tampa?
In the City of Tampa, yes — any tree 5 inches DBH or larger requires a permit, and all cypress and mangroves require one regardless of size. Trees 32 inches DBH or larger are classified as Grand Trees and need special approval. In unincorporated Hillsborough County, permits cost $81.65 for a parcel up to 5 acres through the HillsGovHub portal. Certain invasive species and citrus are exempt.
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
Can I remove a dangerous tree without a permit in Florida?
Is stump grinding included in tree removal?
When is the best time to trim trees in Tampa?
Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal in Tampa?
How did you rank these companies?
Nearby cities
How we made this list. Tree Services Marketing is a marketing agency serving tree care companies in Florida. Rankings on this page are based on publicly available Google review data verified in July 2026 and our own evaluation criteria. No company paid to be included or to be positioned. Companies listed here may become marketing clients in the future; that would not change their position, and we would disclose it. Prices are market estimates for the Tampa area and are not quotes.
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