Dallas, TX · emergencies
Emergency tree removal in Dallas
If a tree in Dallas falls on power lines, call Oncor at 888-313-4747 and 911 for sparks, and stay well back; your retail electric provider can't help. A tree from your yard on your house is yours to have removed right away. In alley-served neighborhoods, lines often run along the back of the lot, so tell the tree company before they arrive.
Dallas at a glance
- Lines
- Oncor: 888-313-4747
- Retailer
- Your electricity retailer doesn't own the lines
- Alley lots
- Back-lot lines and narrow alleys complicate access
- Permits
- Most single-family lots under 2 acres need no removal permit
Reviewed and updated
First steps for a Dallas tree emergency
- 1
Get people out of the affected rooms
Leave entirely if you smell gas or see sparks.
- 2
Oncor and 911
Oncor owns the poles and wires across Dallas; call 888-313-4747 for lines down. 911 for fire, sparks or injuries.
- 3
Photograph everything
Before anything is moved.
- 4
Call a tree service and your insurer
Describe what the tree is on, alley access and any overhead lines.
On-site: lifting a tree off a Dallas house
- 1
Make it safe
Utilities de-energize lines. The crew sets a work zone and checks the structure for stability before climbing or rigging.
- 2
Stabilize the tree
Ropes, a crane, or a loader take the weight so that cutting doesn't cause it to shift or roll.
- 3
Remove in sections
Limbs and trunk pieces come off top-down and are lowered or lifted clear of the damaged area.
- 4
Secure and document
The roof is tarped or openings covered (often by a separate contractor), and you get photos and an itemized invoice for your insurer.
Alleys, back-lot lines and access
Older central Dallas neighborhoods, like Lakewood, M Streets and Kessler Park, are alley-served, with overhead service lines running across backyards to the alley. A tree that falls toward the alley may be tangled in those lines, and crews may need Oncor to de-energize them first. North Dallas lots are larger, with more room for equipment but often pools and fences under the canopy.
When a Dallas tree emergency can wait until morning
Tree on the roof with ceiling damage or rain coming in
- Urgency
- Now
Tree on a line or touching the service drop
- Urgency
- Now: Oncor first
Only exit blocked
- Urgency
- Now
Tree across the driveway, nothing damaged
- Urgency
- Morning
Broken limbs on the lawn
- Urgency
- Can wait for daylight and dry weather
Ice storm emergencies
During the February 2021 and 2023 winter storms, cedar elms, live oaks and pecans split under ice across the city. Ice emergencies are different from wind: limbs keep breaking as ice builds, and roads may be impassable. Stay out from under loaded trees, and call about anything on a roof or line; the rest can wait until the ice melts.
Dallas emergency safety: yes and no
Do this now
- Get people and pets out of rooms under or near the tree.
- Shut off gas at the meter if you smell gas, and leave the house.
- Photograph the scene from a safe distance before anything is moved.
- Call your insurer early. Many policies want to know before major work.
Never do this
- Never go near or touch a tree that's touching a wire. Treat every line as live.
- Don't try to cut a tree off a roof yourself. The weight can shift without warning.
- Don't stand under hanging or cracked limbs to look at the damage.
- Don't let anyone pressure you into signing a contract or assigning insurance benefits at the door.
Permits after an emergency
For a house on a lot under two acres, Dallas's Article X tree rules generally don't require a removal permit, so emergencies on typical home lots don't need city approval. Trees in the street right-of-way, vacant lots, larger properties and demolition sites are different.
After the emergency in Dallas
For the rest of the storm cleanup.
After removal; Texas 811 two business days ahead.
For surviving trees with broken limbs.
Dallas emergency tree questions
Who do I call in Dallas if a tree is on a power line?
Oncor at 888-313-4747, not the company on your electric bill. Call 911 for sparks, fire or injuries.
Can someone remove a tree from my Dallas house today?
Often, for a tree on an occupied house. After regional storms, wait times grow and crews triage by risk.
Do I need a permit to remove a fallen tree in Dallas?
Not on a typical single-family lot under two acres. Right-of-way trees and larger or vacant lots can be different.
A tree fell across the alley behind my house. Who removes it?
If it grew on your lot, it's yours, even in the alley. If lines are involved, call Oncor first.
Should I knock ice off limbs over my Dallas house?
No. Ice-loaded limbs can snap and fall. Stay clear and call about anything threatening the roof.
Does homeowners insurance cover a tree on my Dallas house?
Usually when it damaged a covered structure, up to a limit. See who pays when a tree falls.
How much does emergency tree removal cost in Dallas?
It depends on size, what it's resting on, alley access and after-hours timing. See the emergency tree removal cost guide.
Who does emergency tree removal near me in Dallas?
Insured local tree companies with storm equipment. You can call us to reach an independent provider in Dallas.
Sources for the local facts on this page
- Oncor: Outage FAQs (888-313-4747) (checked 2026-10-03)
- Dallas City Code 51A-10.132: Tree removal applications (checked 2026-10-03)
Emergency tree removal in Dallas
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.