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Tree Removal in Placerville

Trees in Placerville or up the hill? Call (530) 454-8845. We'll get a local pro out to take a look.

Our focus is Pollock Pines and the ridge. But Placerville is 13 miles west on Highway 50, and plenty of folks call from there.

Call (530) 454-8845or use the short estimate form

Placerville in a few facts

Placerville is a city and the county seat of El Dorado County. It had 10,747 people at the 2020 census. Its ZIP is 95667. Downtown sits at about 1,867 feet, which is about 2,100 feet below Pollock Pines.

It's where Highway 50 crosses State Route 49. The city grew out of gold-rush days. It was once called Hangtown, after hangings on an oak tree on Main Street.

Oaks matter to this story. They matter to your tree job too.

City rules, not county rules

Here's a big difference from Pollock Pines. Placerville is a city. That means the city may have its own tree rules. Pollock Pines is not a city, so county rules apply there.

We haven't read the city code line by line, so we won't say what it says. Call City Hall, or ask the pro. Do this before you cut any large tree, and always for an oak.

The county Fire Safe Council says basic oak trimming and maintenance doesn't need a permit under the county oak ordinance. The council's page is about the county, though. It doesn't speak for the city.

Selling a Placerville home

California's AB 38 says sellers in high fire severity zones must hand buyers proof of compliance with defensible space rules. Inspections are done by the county fire district, even for homes inside the city of Placerville. The fee is $205.

If you're selling, start early. Dead trees and crowded ones are the usual problems.

Moving up the hill

Lots of Placerville people own cabins in Pollock Pines. Maybe you do. If so, you know the difference: the drive up the hill can mean a lot more snow.

Up the hill, snow runs from half a foot to 6 feet in a year. If your cabin has big trees, check them each fall. Place a call before snow.

Read large trees near cabins for what that job looks like.

Oaks and pines

You may see oaks in town and pines up the hill. Both can be a problem, in different ways.

• Oaks bring rules and permits. Fixr gives $900 to $2,000 for removal.
• Pines bring beetles and fire worries. UC IPM says drought-stressed trees are the easy targets.

Your pro should know both.

What it costs

Prices above come from This Old House (March 2026) and Fixr (January 2025). They are national numbers, not quotes.

Guides disagree on oaks. Get a real price.

Questions to ask the city

When you call City Hall, have these ready:

1. Is the tree on private property inside city limits?
2. Is it an oak, and how wide is the trunk?
3. Is there a permit or a fee?
4. Does the city want a written plan?

Write down the name of the person you spoke with. Give the pro a copy of what you learned.

Nearby

See Camino, Sly Park and Pollock Pines. Read about permits.