A tree usually lands on the removal list because it is dead, decaying, leaning, or in the way of something new. Here is what changes the price and the paperwork.
Signs worth a closer look
UF/IFAS says laurel oaks handle decay poorly: a wound or a bad cut can lead to hollow areas and widespread internal rot in roots and trunk, and shoestring root rot, which has no practical control, works up from the roots and kills the tree's cambium. Ocala Electric Utility's hazard tree program looks for much the same things an owner can spot from the ground:
- Dead or dying wood, especially big limbs over the roof, driveway or a play area.
- Hollow areas or rot in the trunk or major branches.
- Structural defects such as cracks and splits.
- Poor roots, or a root plate that has started to lift.
None of those proves a tree has to go. An ISA certified arborist can assess it, and that same assessment can matter for permits (below).
Permits, briefly
- Inside Ocala: the city's application requires a permit for any tree 4 inches or more in diameter, regardless of condition, unless the lot is zoned R-1, R-1A or R-1AA, under 3 acres, with an existing single-family home. The fee is $100 and emergency applications go in person.
- Unincorporated Marion County: trees under 10 inches DBH, trees on a single-family dwelling parcel, and dead or dying trees or ones posing an immediate threat all appear on the county's exemption list.
- Any single-family home lot in Florida: an arborist's or landscape architect's signed risk finding can take local permitting off the table. See permits.
Published prices
| Tree height | Angi, Orlando (Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 ft | $160 to $300 |
| 30 to 60 ft | $300 to $700 |
| 60 to 80 ft | $700 to $1,100 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,100 to $1,800 |
| Species | Angi, Orlando |
|---|---|
| Oak | $700 to $1,100 |
| Pine | $1,100 to $1,800 |
| Palm | $1,100 to $1,500 |
The same guide puts a crane for trees over 80 feet at about $500 more, and says nearness to power lines or buildings can add up to 50 percent. Hauling the wood away is listed at about $50 and splitting it into firewood at about $75.
Before the contractor comes out
- Know whether the lot is in Ocala city limits, another town, or unincorporated Marion County.
- Note what the tree could hit: roof, fence, pool cage, a neighbor's yard, a power line.
- Decide on the stump now and ask whether grinding is included.
- Ask whether hauling, chipping and any city permit are in the number.
Sources
- UF/IFAS Extension: Quercus laurifolia: Laurel Oak (ENH-707, revised December 2018)
- City of Ocala Electric Utility: Hazardous Tree Removal Program
- City of Ocala Growth Management Department: Tree Removal Permit Application (revised 1/22/2025)
- Marion County Growth Services: Stand-Alone Tree Removal Permit Application
- Florida Statutes 163.045 (2025): Tree pruning, trimming, or removal on residential property
- Angi: How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Orlando, FL? (Kate Fann, updated August 9, 2026)
Checked October 27, 2026. Fees, rules and price surveys change, so treat the linked original as the final word.