Travis County, TX
Tree removal in Travis County, Texas
Outside Austin's city limits, Travis County homeowners deal with the same Hill Country trees without Austin's protected-tree permits, but with the same oak wilt and ice. After Winter Storm Mara in February 2023, the county collected storm debris curbside in unincorporated areas. Oak wilt disease centers in western Travis County make pruning timing and wound paint essential, and Texas A&M Forest Service offers cost-share for suppression.
Travis County at a glance
- Oak wilt
- Active disease centers; no oak pruning Feb–June; paint wounds
- Cost-share
- Texas A&M Forest Service funds trenching and red oak removal
- Storm debris
- County curbside pickup in unincorporated areas after Mara (2023)
- Austin
- Inside the city, protected (19 in.) and heritage (24 in.) tree rules apply
Reviewed and updated
Unincorporated Travis County vs. Austin
Much of western and eastern Travis County is outside any city, from the Lake Travis shoreline to Manor and Del Valle. There, the City of Austin's protected-tree and heritage-tree permits don't apply; Austin's rules cover trees 19 inches and larger inside the city. Villages and cities like West Lake Hills, Lakeway and Pflugerville have their own codes, and HOAs and deed restrictions often add more.
Oak wilt in western Travis County
Oak wilt kills up to 90 percent of untreated oaks in an infection center, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, and it spreads through the connected roots of live oaks and by beetles visiting fresh wounds. Disease centers in unincorporated western Travis County have threatened to cross into neighboring communities like West Lake Hills.
The rules are the same everywhere in Central Texas: don't prune or wound oaks from February through June, paint every oak wound immediately in any month, and remove infected red oaks, which produce the spore mats. Texas A&M Forest Service runs a cost-share program that helps landowners pay for trenching to sever root connections and for red oak removal.
Winter Storm Mara and county debris pickup
Winter Storm Mara coated Central Texas in ice from January 31 to February 2, 2023, splitting live oaks, cedar elms and pecans. Travis County ran curbside pickup of tree debris in unincorporated areas, collecting 239,432 cubic yards in the first round before a final round. That's useful context when hiring after an ice storm: if county pickup is running, paying a crew to cut and stack at the curb can be cheaper than hauling.
Storm cleanup on Hill Country lots
- 1
Triage
Walk the property from a safe distance and list trees on structures, trees on lines, blocked exits, and hangers over walkways.
- 2
Emergency removals
Trees on structures and blocking access are removed first, usually in sections with rigging.
- 3
Hazard pruning
Hangers and broken stubs are removed from trees that will stay, with clean cuts at a branch collar.
- 4
Re-evaluate
Once the urgency passes, have an arborist look at the damaged trees that are still standing and decide what to keep.
Floodplains and creek-side trees
Eastern Travis County's creeks and the Colorado River floodplain are prone to flooding. Trees along streams hold banks in place, and the county supports floodplain reforestation. Before removing trees along a creek on your property, consider the bank, and check whether floodplain rules apply to work in mapped flood hazard areas.
Ice and storm safety
Do this now
- Stay inside during the storm and away from windows on the side facing large trees.
- Afterward, look for hangers before walking under any tree.
- Check whether your city is running a curbside debris program before paying to haul brush.
- Keep all receipts. Tree work may count toward insurance or disaster-assistance claims.
Never do this
- Don't run a chainsaw on wood that's bent, pinned or twisted. It can spring violently when cut.
- Don't approach any tree near downed lines. Lines can be live even when the power is out.
- Don't hire a company that wants full payment before starting.
Services in Travis County
For oaks, only July–January, with every cut painted.
After ice storms and spring wind.
For oak wilt-killed red oaks and split live oaks.
Often limited by limestone.
Austin guidance
Inside Austin, protected and heritage tree permits apply, and the city's guides cover them in detail, along with oak wilt timing for trimming.
Austin's protected and heritage tree permits, oak wilt and ice.
Travis County tree questions
Do Austin's tree permits apply in unincorporated Travis County?
No. Austin's protected and heritage tree rules apply inside the city. Outside it, check your village or city, HOA and deed restrictions.
Is there help paying for oak wilt treatment in Travis County?
Yes. Texas A&M Forest Service runs a cost-share program for oak wilt suppression, including trenching and red oak removal.
When can I prune oaks in Travis County?
July through January. Avoid pruning or wounding oaks February through June, and paint every oak wound in any month.
Did Travis County pick up debris after Winter Storm Mara?
Yes. The county ran curbside tree-debris pickup in unincorporated areas, collecting 239,432 cubic yards in the first round alone.
How much does tree removal cost in Travis County?
It depends on size, access on Hill Country lots, rock and hauling; oak wilt work like trenching is priced separately. See the tree removal cost guide.
Why remove an infected red oak?
Red oaks with oak wilt grow spore mats under the bark that beetles carry to fresh wounds on healthy oaks.
Can stump grinding hit rock in western Travis County?
Often. Thin soils over limestone can stop grinders a few inches down.
Should I remove trees along a creek on my property?
Think twice: streamside trees hold banks in place. Check floodplain rules for mapped flood hazard areas before major work.
Who removes trees near me in Travis County?
Insured tree services that follow oak wilt timing. You can call us to reach an independent provider.
Sources for the local facts on this page
- Travis County: Ice storm debris pickup (2023) (checked 2026-10-03)
- Texas A&M Forest Service: Funding to combat oak wilt (checked 2026-10-03)
- Travis County: Restoring land after floods (checked 2026-10-03)
Tree service in Travis County
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.