Tree removal in Reno, NV

Reno is two cities as far as trees go. About 37% of homes were built before 1980 and about 36% since 2000, so one crew may take down a towering old yard tree in the morning and a struggling subdivision tree in the afternoon.

At a glance

• No City of Reno permit to remove a tree on private property
• Right-of-way trees: Tree Work Permit and a Certified Arborist required
• About 37% of Reno homes built before 1980, about 12% before 1960
• About 43 minutes from our Carson City yard without traffic

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Reno?

On private property, no. The City of Reno does not require a permit to remove, prune or plant a tree on your own lot. The rule changes at the property line. A tree in a City right-of-way or on City property needs a Tree Work Permit, and that work must be done by a Certified Arborist. Reno Urban Forestry answers questions at 775-321-8373.

Not sure which side of the line your tree is on? Planting strips between the sidewalk and the curb are the usual grey area. Ask the city before you book. Our permit guide has the details.

Old Reno and new Reno are different jobs

In the older neighborhoods the trees are big and the yards are tight. Removal there means sections lowered on ropes or lifted over the roof with the crane. In the newer subdivisions the trees are smaller, and the usual reasons for removal are a tree planted too close to the foundation, one that never thrived, or one the wind has broken.

About half of Reno households rent (American Community Survey). If you are a tenant, the owner or the property manager has to approve the removal.

An irrigated forest in a dry place

The NOAA normals station nearest central Reno, Reno 1.4 NNE, averages about 9.2 inches of precipitation a year. Almost every street and yard tree in the Truckee Meadows was planted and depends on watering. Trees that lose their water decline. Our advice has always been the same: the moment you see decay is the moment to ask an arborist.

What does wildfire risk mean for trees in town?

The USDA Forest Service ranks Reno's wildfire risk to homes higher than 97.7% of US communities. About 5% of buildings are in the direct exposure zone and about 42% in the indirect zone. The 2020 Poeville Road Fire, mapped at 2,973 acres, is one of 34 large fires mapped within about 10 miles since 1980. On the edges of town, removing dead trees is part of defensible space.

A Carson City crew in Reno

Our yard is in Carson City, about 33 miles south. We bring the equipment the arborist's plan calls for, including the crane when a tree calls for it, and we haul everything back out with us. Brush is chipped, logs are loaded, the site is cleaned.