Tree Removal Burlington MA — Costs, Permits, What to Know

The Short Version

Tree removal in Burlington, MA costs $300 to $3,000+ depending on the tree. McDonald Tree Service has been removing trees in Burlington since 1995. Flat quotes, owner on every job. Call (978) 375-2272.

What Tree Removal Actually Costs in Burlington

Every tree is a different job. A 20-foot ornamental cherry in the front yard is not the same as a 70-foot white pine leaning toward the neighbour's garage. Here is what we charge, based on real jobs we do in Burlington and across Middlesex County in 2026.

Small trees (under 30 feet) — $300 to $500

Ornamental cherries, young maples that outgrew their spot, small birch. These come down in a couple of hours with a crew of two. Most small removals in Burlington are trees planted too close to the foundation in the 1960s ranches and now pushing against the siding.

Medium trees (30 to 60 feet) — $500 to $1,000

This is most of what we remove in Burlington. Mature maples, oaks, and dead ash. These need a bucket truck or climbing gear, and every section gets rigged and lowered. You cannot just drop a 40-foot oak limb in a Burlington backyard without hitting something. Half a day to a full day depending on access.

Large trees (60+ feet) — $1,000 to $3,000+

The big ones. Old white pines, mature oaks, anything that needs a crane. Full day, bigger crew, more equipment. Large removals in tight Burlington lots — where the tree is between the house and the property line — are at the higher end because every piece needs to be rigged and carried out by hand.

Stump grinding — $150 to $300 per stump

We grind 6 to 12 inches below grade. Enough for grass or garden beds. If you are building a patio or pouring a foundation where the stump was, we can go deeper. Stump grinding is cheaper when done at the same time as removal because the equipment is already on-site.

No "starting at." No surprise charges. The number on the paper is the number on the cheque. We have been quoting this way since 1995.

The Trees That Keep Us Busy in Burlington

Burlington has a specific tree profile. Three things come up over and over.

Dead ash trees

Emerald ash borer has been working through Massachusetts since 2012. By 2026, most untreated ash in Middlesex County are dead or dying. Burlington got hit hard, especially in the neighbourhoods near the town forest and along the Vine Brook corridor where ash was a common street tree.

A dead ash is one of the more dangerous trees to remove. The wood is brittle. It does not behave the way a live tree does when you cut it — the trunk can barber-chair (split vertically) unexpectedly, and branches snap without warning. We rig every section and lower it with ropes. No shortcuts.

If your ash still has a mostly full canopy, treatment might be worth discussing. Once it is half bare, it is done. Do not wait for it to come down on its own. Dead ash near a house, driveway, or walkway is a hazard that gets worse every season it stands.

Mature oaks in tight yards

Burlington's older neighbourhoods, the ones built in the 1950s and 1960s, have mature red oaks and white oaks that were planted as saplings when the houses went up. Sixty years later, those trees are 60 to 80 feet tall and their root systems have outgrown the lot. We remove a lot of oaks in Burlington where the tree has gotten too big for the space. Limbs over the roof, roots cracking the driveway, canopy so dense it kills the grass underneath.

The tricky part is access. A lot of Burlington backyards have fences, sheds, pools, or neighbour's structures on all sides. We climb and rig every section. Sometimes we bring a crane if the only way out is over the house.

White pines near power lines

White pine grows fast and tall, and it is brittle in wind. Burlington has a lot of them, especially in the neighbourhoods near the conservation land. They grow straight until an ice storm loads the canopy unevenly, and then they lean toward the nearest structure, which is often a power line or a roof. We remove leaning pines in Burlington every week during storm season.

The Call I Get Most Often

"I think the tree needs to come down." Nine out of ten times, it does not. A storm broke a few big limbs. The yard looks like a disaster. The homeowner is already calculating the cost of removal. Then I walk the trunk, find solid wood, and the actual job is pruning and cleanup, not removal.

I like those calls. Saving someone a few thousand dollars and keeping a good tree is a better outcome than cashing a bigger cheque for work that did not need doing.

The flip side is real too. I have walked trees that looked fine from the kitchen window, full canopy, green leaves, and found fungal conks at the base, bark sloughing off a main leader, or a crack running through the trunk. Those trees are coming down. The only question is whether it happens on our schedule or the next storm's schedule.

I will tell you which one it is. That is the job.

When Removal Is the Right Call

Some trees need to come down. Here is when we recommend it:

• More than 50 percent of the canopy is dead. The tree is in serious decline and unlikely to recover.
• The trunk is split or cracked. A split trunk will not heal. Water gets in, decay starts, and the next storm finishes the job.
• Mushrooms or conks growing from the trunk or base. Fungal fruiting bodies mean the interior wood is already decaying. By the time you see them on the outside, the structural damage is extensive.
• A new or worsening lean. Especially after a storm. A tree that suddenly leans has a root problem that will not correct itself.
• Large cavities or hollows in the trunk. A hollow trunk compromises the tree's structural integrity.

If the tree is fundamentally sound, a few dead branches, some overgrowth, a limb that needs clearance from the roof, pruning is the better call. Read our pruning vs. removal guide for the full breakdown. For a list of the warning signs, see when to remove a tree.

What You Can Skip Calling Us For

Healthy trees with a few dead branches. That is normal. Prune them out if they bother you.

Ground-level work. Trimming low limbs, cutting up a small fallen branch, that is a Saturday with a pruning saw. Save the overhead stuff for us.

Anything under wrist-thick. If you can reach it from the ground and it fits in your yard waste bin, go for it. Anything that needs a ladder and a running chainsaw at the same time, that is an ER trip waiting to happen.

How the Removal Actually Works

Here is what happens from the phone call to a clean yard:

1. I come look at the tree. I assess the size, condition, species, what is nearby, and how we get equipment in. Then I give you a flat, written quote. No obligation.
2. You say yes, we schedule. Most jobs within a few days. Storm aftermath can stretch the queue, but we prioritize trees on houses and blocking driveways.
3. Removal day. We protect your lawn with plywood, set up the rigging, and start from the top. Every section is cut and lowered with ropes. We do not drop anything on your yard, your fence, or the neighbour's property. For big trees or tight spots, we bring a crane. Crane removal is faster and safer when the situation calls for it.
4. Cleanup. Everything goes through the chipper. Logs get hauled off or stacked for firewood if you want them. We rake the sawdust, blow off the driveway, and leave the yard cleaner than we found it.
5. Stump grinding (optional). We grind 6 to 12 inches below grade. Enough for grass or garden beds. If you want to plant a new tree in the same spot, we can go deeper.

Most removals take half a day to a full day. The biggest trees with tight access and crane setup can stretch to two days, but that is rare.

What to Do With the Stump and Wood

After the tree comes down, you have options:

• Keep the firewood. Tell me before we start. I buck the trunk into rounds, stack it, and leave you a winter's worth.
• Grind the stump. We take it 6 to 12 inches below grade. You can seed over it or lay sod. If you want to plant a new tree in the same spot, let us know so we can grind deeper and clear the root zone.
• Haul everything. We take the wood, the brush, the stump grindings, everything. You get a clean yard with no trace of the tree except a patch of bare soil.

Storm Damage and Insurance

If a tree falls on your house, garage, or fence during a storm, your homeowner's insurance usually covers the removal. Most policies pay $500 to $1,000 per tree, with a total cap of $500 to $2,500 per event.

The catches:

• A tree that falls in the yard and hits nothing is usually not covered. That is the most common gap.
• A dead tree you knew about can be a coverage fight. If the tree showed clear signs of decline and you did not act, the insurer can argue negligence.
• Document everything. Photos before cleanup, detailed invoices, receipts for emergency mitigation (tarps, temporary repairs). We provide all of this.

We work with insurance adjusters regularly. If you need documentation for a claim, we have you covered. For more on the insurance side, see our tree removal insurance claims guide.

Burlington Permits and the Vine Brook Buffer

Most tree removals on private property in Burlington do not need a permit. The two exceptions: trees in the public right-of-way, which are protected under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 87, and trees near Vine Brook or other wetlands, where the state Wetlands Protection Act buffers apply. If your tree is within 100 feet of a wetland, it is worth a call to the conservation commission before you cut. We have worked with Burlington's conservation commission many times and know the process.

Why Us Instead of the Other Guy

There are a dozen tree services that cover Burlington. The national chains that opened a "local" branch last spring charge double, sub the work out to whoever is cheapest that week, and the salesperson who quoted you has never climbed a tree.

I have been doing this since 1995. Same phone number, same owner on every job. Thirty years of running calls in Burlington and the rest of Middlesex County means I know which neighbourhoods have tight access, which driveways will not fit a truck, and which trees fail in which ways.

Insurance and licensing are not optional. Tree work is one of the most dangerous trades in the country. We carry full liability and workers compensation. Certificates before work starts. If the crew showing up does not have proof of insurance, you are the one holding the bag when something goes wrong.

Straight Answers

How much does tree removal cost in Burlington?

Depends on the tree. Size, access, what is nearby. Small trees $300 to $500. Medium trees $500 to $1,000. Large trees $1,000 to $3,000+. I quote flat and in writing after looking at it. Call (978) 375-2272.

Do I need a permit for tree removal in Burlington?

Not on private property in most cases. If the tree is near Vine Brook or other wetlands, the conservation commission may need to sign off. We handle that.

How fast can you get here?

Burlington is about 10 minutes from our shop in Billerica. Most jobs schedule within a few days. If a tree is on your house, it goes to the top of the list. We offer 24/7 emergency service.

Can you remove a tree between two houses?

Yes. Tight access is what we do in Burlington. We rig every section and lower it with ropes. Sometimes we bring a crane if the space is too tight for a bucket truck. It takes longer than an open-yard removal, but it is the safe way to do it.

Should I remove a leaning tree?

A tree that has leaned the same way for ten years is usually fine. A tree that suddenly leans, especially after a storm, has a root problem and should come down. If you are not sure, call us. We will tell you which one it is.

What happens to the stump?

We grind it 6 to 12 inches below grade. You can plant grass, garden beds, or a new tree over it. If you want the stump left as-is, that works too. Just tell us.

Call Us

McDonald Tree Service, Billerica, since 1995. Tree removal, stump grinding, pruning, emergency work — across Burlington and 17 other Middlesex County towns.

Call (978) 375-2272. I will come look at whatever you have got. I will tell you what it costs, what you actually need, and what you can skip. Worst case, I tell you the tree is fine and you spent nothing but a phone call.