Tree Removal Mount Pleasant, SC
Mount Pleasant homeowners understand what a healthy oak canopy is worth, shade through Lowcountry summers, curb appeal, and real property value. But when a tree is damaged, diseased, or simply in the way of a project, tree removal in Mount Pleasant, SC turns into a question with a lot of moving parts: is the tree protected?, does it need a permit?, and who’s going to haul it away cleanly?
Hernandez Trees & Lawn Care has spent years answering that question for homeowners across the Town, and for neighboring communities like Daniel Island and Charleston. Our licensed and insured crews remove everything from storm-damaged ornamentals to protected live oaks, and we handle the Town’s permit paperwork so you don’t have to learn OPAL from scratch.
What Mount Pleasant’s Tree Ordinance Actually Means For You
Most tree removal questions in Mount Pleasant start with one number: 16 inches. That’s the diameter at breast height (DBH) at which a residential tree becomes protected under the Town’s zoning code, 24 inches for pines. A short list of species is exempt (Sweet Gum, Callery Pear, River Birch, Mimosa, Chinaberry, Chinese Tallow, Camphor, White Poplar, Mulberry, and Leyland Cypress), but most oaks and hardwoods aren’t.
If your tree clears that threshold, removal requires an approved permit through the Town’s OPAL online permitting system, along with a $50 non-refundable application review fee, a fee Town Council approved in May 2024. A staff inspection follows to confirm the tree’s condition and whether replacement planting (mitigation) will be required.
There’s a second threshold worth knowing about if you have a large live oak: at 24 inches DBH, a live oak is classified as a historic tree, and removing one requires an arborist report as part of the Board of Zoning Appeals review. We’ve written a longer breakdown of how these rules compare across the Charleston area in our tree removal permit guide, worth a read if you’re planning ahead rather than dealing with an emergency.
We measure DBH, tell you plainly whether your tree is protected, and file the OPAL request on your behalf when one’s needed. It’s the part of tree removal most companies don’t want to deal with. We do.
Why Removal Requests Spike Here
Two things drive most of our Mount Pleasant call volume, and they’re almost opposites.
The first is storms. Mount Pleasant sits directly in the path of Atlantic hurricane systems, and a tree that survives one season can be structurally compromised by the next. Post-storm, we prioritize hazardous trees on structures, blocking driveways, or leaning toward power lines, and we can move fast because emergency tree work doesn’t wait for a permit review in a genuine safety situation.
The second is growth. Mount Pleasant is still one of the fastest-growing towns in South Carolina, and new construction in Carolina Park, Park West, and Rivertowne routinely requires clearing trees to make room for a home, pool, or addition. If your project involves more than one or two trees, it’s worth reading about our land clearing services as well, since a full lot often needs a different approach than a single tree.
Complete tree removal for trees of any size, from ornamentals to mature oaks
Emergency response for storm-damaged or hazardous trees
Protected and historic tree removal, including OPAL filing and arborist coordination
Hazardous tree assessment, an honest read on whether removal is actually necessary
Stump grinding, handled through our dedicated stump removal service
Complete debris cleanup on every job, no exceptions
If your tree just needs to come down a size rather than come out entirely, our tree trimming and tree pruning teams can often solve the problem without removal. We’ll tell you honestly which situation you’re in.
How a Mount Pleasant Removal Actually Goes
- Free on-site estimate. We look at the tree, measure DBH if it’s close to the threshold, and talk through your timeline.
- Permit determination. If it’s protected, we file through OPAL and cover what to expect from the inspection.
- Arborist report, if needed. Required for historic live oaks 24 inches DBH and up.
- Removal. Rigging for anything near a structure, systematic dismantling for open-area trees.
- Stump and cleanup. Grind it, remove it, or leave it, your call. Either way, we haul away every branch and chip.
Why Homeowners Choose Us
We’re not the only tree company that knows Mount Pleasant, but we’re one of the few that treats the ordinance as part of the job instead of an afterthought. We’re licensed, insured (including workers’ comp), and we still do lawn care for a lot of the same clients once the tree work’s done, so the crew you meet for a removal is often the same one mowing the lawn six weeks later.
Social Proof
Reviews From Our Google Business Profile
GALLERY
Images From Our Recent Tree Removal Projects
Trees We Remove Most Often in Mount Pleasant
Live oaks dominate the removal calls that involve a permit, simply because so many clear the 24-inch historic threshold. Water oaks fail more often and faster, which makes them a common storm-damage call. Pines, loblolly and longleaf, come down for beetle damage as much as storms. Palmettos die from freeze damage or age and become falling hazards fast. Magnolias and crape myrtles round out the list, usually removed for space rather than hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Mount Pleasant?
If it’s 16 inches DBH or larger (24 inches for pine), yes, unless it’s one of the exempt species. We measure it and tell you straight.
How much is the tree removal permit fee?
$50, non-refundable, paid before the Town will review your request. Approved by Town Council in May 2024.
What makes a tree "historic" here?
Live oaks 24 inches DBH or larger. Removing one needs an arborist report as part of the approval process, on top of the standard permit.
How fast can you respond to storm damage?
Same day in most cases. Hazardous trees threatening structures or blocking access get priority.
Can you remove a tree close to my house without damaging anything?
That’s most of what rigging is for. We control where every section lands.
What if I just need it cut back, not removed?
Ask us first. A lot of “removal” calls turn into a pruning or trimming job once we look at the tree.
Do you clear full lots for new construction?
Yes, see our land clearing page for how that process differs from single-tree removal.