Tree removal in Hot Springs: dead, leaning and hazard trees
When a tree has to go, and what decides the price.
Removal tends to come up in three situations: a tree that has died, a tree that has started to lean toward something that matters, or a tree standing where a driveway, addition or view is planned. On price, Angi puts height and trunk diameter first, along with how near the tree is to a house or other structure.
Signs a tree should come out
- A pine turning red or brown. The Arkansas Forestry Division says a dying, red-colored pine in Arkansas is almost certainly infested with Ips engraver beetles, three bark beetle species that usually strike after drought.
- An ash thinning from the top. The Cooperative Extension lists the signs of emerald ash borer as canopy dieback starting at the top, sprouts from the base of the trunk, jagged woodpecker holes, D-shaped exit holes and larval tunnels under the bark. The Park Service's 2017 notice says an infestation usually kills an ash within 2 to 5 years.
- Cracks, splits and hangers left by ice or wind, or a trunk that has started to lean after a storm.
The city's own test for its street trees is a useful checklist for yard trees too: Hot Springs removes a right-of-way tree that is dead, has an untreatable disease, is structurally hazardous, or blocks the view of traffic or emergency crews.
How a tree comes down
With open ground on one side, a tree can be felled in one piece. Next to a house, a dock or a line, it's usually taken apart from the top in sections, with pieces lowered on ropes or lifted out by a crane. Angi's 2026 figures put crane rental at about $500 a day (a $250 to $600 range) and say a hard crane job can run $6,000 to $7,000 all in.
| Tree height | Published national range |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 ft | $150 to $450 |
| 30 to 60 ft | $450 to $1,200 |
| 60 to 80 ft | $800 to $1,500 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,000 to $2,000 |
Angi adds that hard-to-reach trees cost 25% to 50% more, that poor tree health can account for up to 15% of the final price, and that rural jobs may carry a travel charge of roughly 50 cents a mile, or $50 to $200 as a flat fee. More on the cost page.
Is it your tree?
In Hot Springs, removing a tree in the city right-of-way, generally the strip between the street and the sidewalk, needs the Urban Forester's approval. For a tree on your own lot we didn't find a published city permit rule; call Urban Forestry at (501) 651-7733 before a large removal, and see tree rules for the Village, the county and the national park.
Where these facts come from
- Arkansas Department of Agriculture: Forest Health
- University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension: Emerald ash borer confirmed in Montgomery, Pike and Garland counties (May 10, 2017)
- National Park Service, Hot Springs National Park: Emerald Ash Borer in Garland County (May 19, 2017, archived)
- City of Hot Springs: How To Use Your Urban Forestry Program
- City of Hot Springs: Urban Forestry
- Angi, updated Oct 22, 2026 by Stephanie Mickelson: How Much Does Tree Removal Cost? [2026 Data]
Checked October 27, 2026. Ordinances, fees and phone numbers get updated; confirm with the source before you act on it.
Common questions
How much does it cost to remove a big pine?
Angi's national figures run $800 to $1,500 for a tree 60 to 80 feet tall and $1,000 to $2,000 above 80 feet, before stump grinding. Tight access or a crane can raise it well beyond that.
Can the city take out a dead tree in front of my house?
If it's a city-owned tree in the right-of-way, yes: Hot Springs removes street trees that are dead, diseased beyond treatment or structurally hazardous. Call Urban Forestry at (501) 651-7733.
Should a dead ash be removed or treated?
The Forestry Division says single ash trees can be protected with an insecticide treatment, but a tree that is already dying from emerald ash borer is usually a removal question. Ask the contractor or your county forester.
Get the tree priced
Phone the number or send the form; a Garland County tree contractor will follow up to see the job and price it. There's no charge for asking.
After hours? The line takes a message. Say where the tree is, roughly how big, and what it's near.