Tree Removal in Gretna, LA

Tree removal in Gretna, LA, is how you deal with a dead, storm-damaged or badly placed tree before it lands on your roof, car or fence. Big Easy Tree Cutting removes trees from private residential and commercial property on the West Bank, starting with a free estimate and ending with cleanup. One Gretna rule shapes every job: the city itself handles trees on city-controlled property, so we confirm where your tree stands before we quote.

Gretna’s rule for trees on city property

Gretna is an incorporated city with its own Code of Ordinances. It is the second-largest city in Jefferson Parish and the parish seat, sitting on the West Bank across the river from uptown New Orleans.

Section 50-6 of the Gretna Code of Ordinances is direct about trees the city controls. When a request to remove or cut a tree or shrub is approved, “the city shall schedule and perform the approved work.” The same section says that under no circumstances will any private citizen or organization be authorized to remove or cut a tree or shrub located on city-controlled property. City property there includes streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, parks and cemeteries.

What that means for you:

• A tree on city property is the city’s job. No private company, ours included, can be hired to cut it. Requests go to the city in writing, and our arborist services in Gretna page explains that request process in more detail.
• A tree on your own lot is where we come in. We remove trees on private residential and commercial property.
• Unsure where the line falls? A survey or plat of your property can help, and the city can confirm whether a tree near the street is on its side.

For trees on private property, our research did not establish whether Gretna requires a removal permit. We could not review the city’s development code for this page, so check with the City of Gretna before removal, especially for a large tree or a lot involved in construction.

What happens on removal day

Our process follows the same steps on every job:

1. Assessment and estimate. We look at the tree, its lean, and what sits beneath it, then give you a free estimate.
2. Agreed scope. We settle which trees are coming down, whether the stump is included, and how the wood is handled.
3. Takedown. Depending on space and targets, the tree may be felled whole or taken down in sections, with limbs lowered away from structures.
4. Cleanup and follow-up. We clean up debris and check back with you after the job.

Stumps are a separate choice. If you want the ground cleared, add stump grinding in Gretna to the same visit. Our main tree removal services page covers larger and more complicated removals.

When removal makes sense, and when it may not

A tree that looks bad is not automatically a tree that has to go. Pruning, deadwood removal or a closer inspection can sometimes keep a tree standing safely. Removal often makes sense when:

• The tree is dead or most of the canopy has died back
• The trunk has a major crack, cavity or split at a fork
• Decay or fungal growth shows at the base or root flare
• The tree leans toward the house and the lean is new or getting worse
• Roots or limbs are damaging a foundation, slab or roofline and pruning will not solve it

Our article on when to remove a tree goes deeper into each of these.

Storm damage on the West Bank

Hurricanes are a fact of life here. In its report on Hurricane Ida, the National Hurricane Center wrote that the worst-hit areas were the coastal portions of Lafourche and Jefferson Parishes, and that widespread electrical power failures from Ida’s winds reached the New Orleans metropolitan area. The report does not give tree-damage counts for Gretna, but a storm of that size can leave trees cracked, uprooted or hung up in neighboring trees.

After a storm, stay clear of trees that are leaning on a structure or touching lines, and do not climb or cut hung-up limbs yourself. Our guide on what to do when a tree falls on your property lays out the first steps. We also offer emergency tree removal, so call and tell us what you are seeing.

Overhead lines: call your electric utility first

If a tree is touching or close to an overhead power line, contact your electric utility before any work is planned. Louisiana law generally prohibits activity that could bring a person or tool within ten feet of an overhead line carrying more than 600 volts (La. R.S. 45:141 et seq.). The utility decides how the line side of the job is handled.

Nearby tree removal

We also provide tree removal in Metairie and tree removal in Harahan, and you can see our full tree service in Gretna page for trimming, fertilization and more.

Free tree removal estimates in Gretna

Send us a few details about the tree and where it stands, and we will schedule a look at no charge. Reach us through our contact page or call 504-732-9714.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire a company to remove a tree on Gretna city property?

No, Gretna’s code says no private citizen or organization will be authorized to remove or cut a tree on city-controlled property. The city schedules and performs approved work itself, and requests go to the city in writing.

What counts as city property in Gretna?

Under Section 50-6 of the Gretna code, city property includes streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, parks and cemeteries. If a tree stands near your front property line, ask the city to confirm which side it is on.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own lot in Gretna?

Our research did not establish whether Gretna requires a permit for removing a tree on private property. Check with the City of Gretna before work begins, especially if the lot is part of a construction project.

Do you remove storm-damaged trees in Gretna?

Yes, we remove storm-damaged trees on private property and offer emergency tree removal. Keep clear of leaning trees and downed lines, and call 504-732-9714 to describe the damage.

What if the tree is near a power line?

Contact your electric utility first. Louisiana law generally prohibits work that could bring a person or tool within ten feet of a line carrying more than 600 volts.

Do you grind the stump after removing the tree?

Stump grinding is available as an add-on or a separate visit. Tell us during the estimate if you want the stump ground so it can be included in the scope.