Philadelphia, PA · Philadelphia County
Tree removal in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, Parks & Recreation's Street Tree Management Division prunes street trees and removes dead or hazardous ones at no cost, and a private contractor needs its permit before touching one. Backyard trees are the owner's, and rowhouse removals often mean carrying every piece out through the house.
Rowhouse blocks leave little room between buildings. A tree in a backyard or a shared rear alley usually has to be climbed, rigged and lowered in small pieces, then hand-carried to the street. Some jobs need a crane set up on the street to lift sections over the roofline, which can mean a street-closure permit.
Philadelphia is also in the middle of Pennsylvania's spotted lanternfly zone. Tree-of-heaven, its favorite host, grows in vacant lots, along rail lines and in backyards across the city, and many homeowners now remove it to cut down on lanternflies and sticky honeydew.
Reviewed and updated
Street trees, rowhouses and lanternfly
City-managed street trees
Parks & Recreation prunes street trees and removes dead or hazardous ones for free; it won't remove a healthy street tree.
Rowhouse access
Backyard trees are typically removed by hand-carrying through the house or with a crane over the roof.
Spotted lanternfly and tree-of-heaven
Lanternfly is widespread; tree-of-heaven is the main host and a common backyard invader.
Tropical remnants and summer storms
Storms like Isaias (2020) and Ida (2021) brought down trees across the region.
Crane over the roof or carry-through? Choosing the method
For a rowhouse backyard tree, the method sets most of the price and the schedule:
Best for
- Carry-through
- Small and medium trees
- Crane over the roof
- Large trees, or when the house can't be used as a path
Inside the house
- Carry-through
- Wood carried through on protected floors
- Crane over the roof
- Nothing comes inside
Street needs
- Carry-through
- Parking for a truck and chipper
- Crane over the roof
- Room to set the crane; often a street permit
Time
- Carry-through
- Slower; everything moves by hand
- Crane over the roof
- Faster once set up
Who handles Philadelphia's street trees
- Contractors need a work permit from Philadelphia Parks & Recreation's Street Tree Management Division before pruning or removing a street tree.
- The city prunes street trees and removes dead or hazardous street trees free of charge, but doesn't remove living, healthy trees or maintain trees on private property, including alleys.
- Property owners may hire a certified arborist, at their own expense, to maintain their street trees under a permit.
Sources (checked 2026-10-01)
Rules change and details depend on your exact property. Confirm with the city or county before work starts. This isn't legal advice.
A spotted lanternfly calendar for Philadelphia yards
- 1
Fall through spring: egg masses
Look for mud-like gray patches on trees, fences and outdoor furniture, and scrape them into a bag with alcohol.
- 2
Spring and early summer: nymphs
Small black, white-spotted nymphs climb trunks; sticky bands with wildlife guards catch many.
- 3
Summer and fall: adults
Adults cluster on tree-of-heaven, maples and grapevines, dripping honeydew that turns black with mold.
- 4
Any time: tree-of-heaven
Removing tree-of-heaven reduces lanternfly, but cut trees resprout, so ask about treatment.
Attached houses and small sidewalk pits
Attached houses, shared walls and narrow rear yards are the norm, so nearly every backyard job is a hand-carry or crane job. Street trees sit in small sidewalk pits next to parked cars, which affects how they're taken down.
Shared walls mean neighbors are part of almost every backyard job. Let them know about crane days and parking, and confirm the company's insurance covers work over adjoining roofs.
Planetrees, pears, maples and tree-of-heaven
- London planetree
- The classic Philadelphia street tree; large and long-lived
- Callery pear
- Widely planted on streets; splits in wind and ice
- Red and Norway maple
- Common street and yard trees
- Pin oak and honeylocust
- Frequent on wider streets and in parks
- Tree-of-heaven
- Invasive; lanternfly host; resprouts from roots
Philadelphia services, rowhouse to rowhouse
Backyard removals by hand or crane.
Crane lifts over rowhouse roofs.
Backyard pruning; street trees need a Parks & Recreation permit.
Cleanup after tropical remnants and summer storms.
Small grinders fit through some rowhouses; others leave stumps cut flush.
Philadelphia questions
Will Philadelphia remove the street tree in front of my house?
If it's dead or hazardous, yes, and at no cost. Report it to Street Tree Management. The city won't remove a living, healthy street tree, and a private contractor needs a permit before doing any work on one.
How do you remove a tree from a rowhouse backyard?
Usually by climbing and rigging it down in small pieces and carrying the wood out through the house, protected with floor coverings. For big trees, a crane on the street can lift sections over the roof.
Should I cut down tree-of-heaven in my yard?
It's worth removing, but cutting alone makes it resprout from the roots. Effective control usually involves treating the tree before or as it's cut. Ask the company how they'll prevent resprouts.
Calls are routed to independent local tree-service providers. How calling works
More local guides
Need tree help in Philadelphia?
Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.