Tree Removal in Madisonville, LA

Tree removal in Madisonville, LA comes with one local rule worth knowing before any cutting starts: the town protects live oak and cypress trees 6 inches or more in diameter. Big Easy Tree Cutting removes dead, storm-damaged and unwanted trees from Madisonville homes and businesses, and every job begins with a free estimate.

Madisonville is a town on the Tchefuncte River, and it has its own tree ordinance. Knowing which trees it covers, and which it doesn’t, can save you a surprise halfway through a project.

Madisonville’s protected trees: live oak and cypress

The Town of Madisonville’s Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Article II defines a “protected tree” as any live oak or cypress with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of six inches or more, measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Under Section 18-23, a tree permit is required from the town before pruning, cutting or removing a protected tree, or any portion of one.

The same section says that work must be recommended in writing and supervised by a licensed arborist or a state forester, and the written recommendation is attached to the permit application. Before any protected tree comes down, confirm who will provide that recommendation and supervision and who will submit the application. We can talk through what your project may need at the estimate, and the town confirms the requirements.

The ordinance doesn’t name a specific town department. Madisonville Town Hall, at 209 Highway 22 West, (985) 845-7311, is a sensible first call to find out where your application should go.

What the ordinance exempts, and what it asks for afterward

• Dead trees. Removing a dead tree does not require a permit under Section 18-23(2).
• Other species. The protected-tree definition covers live oak and cypress only. Other rules, such as HOA covenants, may still apply to your lot.
• Replacement. Section 18-25 says that for each protected tree removed, two trees of the same species are to be planted, each at least three inches in diameter.
• No-fault exception. No mitigation is required when a licensed arborist determines a tree is dead, diseased, infested, fatally declining or hazardous through no fault of the landowner.

These rules apply inside town limits. Addresses with a Madisonville mailing address outside the town fall under St. Tammany Parish’s development code instead, so check which side of the line your property sits on.

Floodwater, saturated soil and leaning trees

In Madisonville, flooding is part of the storm picture. In its Hurricane Ida report, the National Weather Service noted that nearly 2 feet of water covered much of Madisonville in 2021. Standing water and saturated ground can loosen a tree’s grip on the soil, and a tree that looked fine before a flood may start to lean in the weeks after.

Signs that a Madisonville tree may need to come down:

• A new lean, especially with cracked or heaving soil on one side.
• A trunk split or a large limb hanging after a storm.
• Dead wood throughout the canopy, or no leaves where there should be.
• Fungus or soft, crumbly wood at the base.

Our guide to storm-damaged tree removal covers what to do after a big blow, and our post on dead tree removal explains why dead trees are worth dealing with sooner. If you’d like an opinion on saving the tree first, see our arborist services in Madisonville.

Trees near power lines

St. Tammany Parish’s utility page lists more than one electric provider serving the parish, so start by confirming which one serves your address. Louisiana law generally prohibits people and equipment from coming within 10 feet of an overhead line carrying more than 600 volts. If a tree is touching or leaning toward a line, call your electric utility before anyone works on it, and let the utility decide how the line is handled.

From estimate to cleanup

Here’s how a job with us runs:

1. We visit, assess the tree and the space around it, and give you a free estimate.
2. We agree on the scope, including what happens to the wood.
3. The crew arrives and does the work you approved.
4. We clean up the debris and follow up with you after the job.

If a storm drops a tree on your roof, car or driveway, we also handle emergency tree removal. Call and tell us what happened, and stay clear of any tree that’s tangled with a power line until the utility has been called.

Want the stump gone too? Our stump grinding in Madisonville turns it into wood chips. Read more about our tree removal services, or visit our page on tree service in Madisonville. Neighbors nearby can also find us for tree removal in Covington and tree removal in Mandeville.

Schedule a free estimate in Madisonville

Tell us what kind of tree it is, roughly how big, and what’s near it. We’ll take a look, answer your questions about the town’s rules as best we can, and give you a free estimate. Contact us here or call 504-732-9714.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Madisonville?

Generally yes if the tree is a live oak or cypress 6 inches or more at breast height inside town limits, though removing a dead tree is exempt. Other species are outside the protected-tree definition, though HOA rules may still apply.

Do I need a permit to remove a dead live oak in Madisonville?

No, the town’s ordinance says removing dead trees does not require a permit. If the tree is only partly dead, check with the town before cutting live wood.

Who has to recommend removing a protected tree?

A licensed arborist or a state forester must recommend the work in writing and supervise it. That written recommendation is attached to the permit application.

Do I have to replant after removing a protected tree?

Generally yes, the ordinance calls for two trees of the same species for each protected tree removed. The exception is a tree a licensed arborist finds dead, diseased, infested, fatally declining or hazardous through no fault of the landowner.

Who do I call about a tree touching a power line?

Call your electric utility first. Louisiana law generally keeps people and equipment at least 10 feet from high-voltage overhead lines, and the utility decides how the line is handled.

Are tree removal estimates free?

Yes, Big Easy Tree Cutting offers free estimates on all services. We assess the tree before agreeing on a scope with you.