Tree Removal cost in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale, FL · updated August 2026
$1,700
Typical local cost
$500 – $6,600
Typical range
- per tree
- $550 – $6,650
- Permit
- It depends
- Typical timeline
- Same day to 2 days
Installed, local pricing
$0 – $390 in fees
Same day to 2 days, 1-4 weeks if a permit is required
Fort Lauderdale runs +21% against the U.S. average · data confidence Medium · modeled estimate, not a quote
The modeled midpoint for Fort Lauderdale is $1,700. The local adjustment for this trade is x1.205 — driven mainly by Broward County labor rates and 20% exposure to local code requirements.
Cost by project size
Generated from the same unit pricing the calculator uses.
| Project size | Estimated range |
|---|---|
| Small tree (under 30 ft) | $300 – $3,300 |
| Medium tree (30–60 ft) | $500 – $6,600 |
| Large tree (60–80 ft) | $800 – $10,600 |
| Very large tree (80 ft+) | $1,100 – $14,500 |
Based on Fort Lauderdale pricing of $550–$6,650 per tree.
Where the money goes
- Labor
- $1,400
- 74% of median
- Materials
- $300
- 16% of median
- Permit & fees
- $195
- 10% of median
Fort Lauderdale project costs+21% vs U.S. average
Based on Broward County labor rates, local material logistics and permit-fee posture for this trade.
What the project looks like start to finish
Typical sequence for this scope. Timing varies with contractor backlog and plan-review queues.
01
Planning & quotes
Scope, material choice, contractor selection
02
Permit application
Filed with City of Fort Lauderdale Development Services
03
Materials & staging
Order lead time on non-stock materials
04
Installation
Same day to 2 days, 1-4 weeks if a permit is required
05
Closeout
Final sign-off, warranty and documentation
Fort Lauderdale labor intelligence
What the trade charges here, and how much of your price it is.
Loaded hourly rate
$64–$84
Outdoor crews in Broward County · +18% vs U.S. ($62/hr)
Typical crew
2 × 1 day
On-site time for a typical tree removal job here.
Labor in the price
$1,400
85% of the median — the rest is material, disposal and permit.
Because labor is 85% of this job, Fort Lauderdale wage levels move the price far more than material prices do. A quote well under this labor figure usually means a smaller crew, a longer schedule, or unlicensed help.
Basis: Hometriva labor model: national outdoor crew rates adjusted by the Broward County labor factor (x1.182). · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Hometriva methodology
Why Fort Lauderdale differs from the national average
The local delta, broken into dollars by driver.
Trade labor rates+$225
Broward County crews price 18% above the national average, and labor is 85% of this job.
Permit fees+$50
Fees are paid to the jurisdiction, not the contractor, and are budgeted separately from the contract price.
Code and inspection load+$50
Tree Removal carries 20% exposure to local code requirements, and this jurisdiction's review load indexes at x1.15.
Basis: Decomposition of the modeled Fort Lauderdale median against the U.S. median for this scope. · City of Fort Lauderdale Development Services, Hometriva methodology
Fort Lauderdale vs Florida vs the U.S.
Change the inputs, see your number
The same local model, run against your job instead of the average one.
Simulated tree removal in Fort Lauderdale
$1,895
Likely range $695 – $6,795
Simulated from the same local model as the numbers above — it changes the inputs, not the pricing method.
What makes the number move
- Tree height, species and trunk diameter
- Proximity to the house and power lines
- Crane or bucket truck access
- Stump grinding and debris haul-off
- Emergency post-storm service
Who issues each permit
Tracked per discipline — the building permit issuer is not always the body that reviews electrical, plumbing, zoning or fire.
| Discipline | Issuing authority |
|---|---|
| building | City of Fort Lauderdale Development ServicesConfirmed department |
| electrical | City of Fort Lauderdale Development ServicesConfirmed department |
| mechanical | City of Fort Lauderdale Development ServicesConfirmed department |
| plumbing | City of Fort Lauderdale Development ServicesConfirmed department |
| zoning | City of Fort Lauderdale Development ServicesConfirmed department |
| fire | City of Fort Lauderdale Development ServicesConfirmed department |
Permit requirement in Fort Lauderdale
It depends on scope. Like-for-like cosmetic work in Fort Lauderdale is often exempt, but a permit is required as soon as you change structure, plumbing, electrical or the building envelope.
- Permitting authority
- City of Fort Lauderdale Development ServicesConfirmed department
- Permit fee
- Based on declared project valuationSee the department's adopted fee schedule. Typical range for this scope: $0–$390.
Local conditions that change this job
Only the exposures that materially affect tree removal.
Design wind speed exposure
Severe94/100
Named-storm exposure
Severe92/100
Broward County is also inside the HVHZ, so wind-borne debris protection is required for most exterior work.
Nearby market comparison
| Market | Local factor | Median | Per tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale (this page) | x1.205 | $1,700 | $550 – $6,650 |
| Miami | x1.258 | $1,800 | $550 – $6,900 |
| West Palm Beach | x1.175 | $1,600 | $550 – $6,450 |
| Port St. Lucie | x1.041 | $1,500 | $450 – $5,750 |
What Fort Lauderdale homeowners actually paid
Homeowner-reported invoices for this market. Nothing is published until enough reports clear review, so this section is often empty in newer markets — adding yours takes 20 seconds and no personal details.
Quotes homeowners were given in Fort Lauderdale
Quotes run ahead of final invoices. Reporting yours shows the local spread and where there is room to negotiate.
How Hometriva estimates Fort Lauderdale tree removal costs
Hometriva does not publish invented city prices. The Fort Lauderdale estimate for tree removal is produced by this chain, and every input is stored separately:
- National baseline$1,400
Typical U.S. cost for tree removal on a single-family home.
- Local labor factorx1.182
Fort Lauderdale-area trade labor rates, weighted at 85% of this job.
- Material factorx1.110
Material and delivery pricing into Broward County, weighted at 15%.
- Regulatory factorx1.145
Local code, product-approval and inspection load, applied at 20% for this project type.
- Applied multiplierx1.205
Blended Fort Lauderdale adjustment specific to tree removal.
- Permit component$0 – $390
Budgeted separately from the contract price because it is paid to the jurisdiction.
Because labor, material and regulatory factors are weighted per project, tree removal in Fort Lauderdale carries a different local adjustment than other trades in the same market.
Reviewed by
Hometriva Cost Data Desk
Maintains the unit-cost baselines, local adjustment factors and material pricing. Reviewed for tree removal pricing in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
- • National unit-cost baselines against current trade pricing
- • Local labor and materials factors for the market
- • Material installed-cost ranges and service life
Last reviewed August 2026 · Editorial standards · Report an error
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Florida?
Florida Statute 163.045 lets a residential property owner remove a tree without a local permit when a certified arborist or licensed landscape architect documents that it poses an unacceptable risk. Otherwise, most cities require a permit for protected species above a size threshold.
How long does tree removal take?
Same day to 2 days, 1-4 weeks if a permit is required. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.
What changes the price the most?
The largest cost drivers are tree height, species and trunk diameter; proximity to the house and power lines; crane or bucket truck access.
Sources
Sources & verification
- City of Fort Lauderdale Development Services
- Fort Lauderdale permit portal
- Florida Building Commission
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.