Tree Removal in River Ridge, LA

Big Easy Tree Cutting provides tree removal in River Ridge, LA, for homeowners and businesses with a dead, damaged or unwanted tree on their property. We start with a free estimate, agree on the scope with you, take the tree down in manageable sections and clean up the debris. Because River Ridge is unincorporated, a tree on the strip in front of your house may fall under Jefferson Parish rules, so we sort out which trees are on your lot before anyone picks up a saw.

River Ridge sits between Harahan to the east, Kenner to the northwest, Metairie to the north and the Mississippi River to the southwest, so our crews cover it along with the rest of our tree service in River Ridge and the neighboring communities.

How a River Ridge tree removal job runs

Every job follows the same basic path, which keeps surprises to a minimum:

• Consultation and assessment. We look at the tree, what it leans toward, and what sits underneath it, such as a roof, fence, driveway or pool. You get an estimate at no charge.
• Agreed scope. Before the crew arrives, you know which trees are coming down, whether the stump stays, and what happens to the wood.
• The removal. Depending on the tree and the space around it, the crew may fell it in one piece or take it down in pieces, lowering limbs away from structures.
• Cleanup and follow-up. We clean up the debris when the work is done and follow up with you afterward.

If you would like the stump gone as well, ask about stump grinding in River Ridge when you book. You can read more about our general approach on the tree removal services page.

Your yard or the parish strip? Jefferson Parish rules in River Ridge

River Ridge is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, with no city government of its own, so the parish code is the place to look.

Chapter 37 of the Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances covers trees on public property. Section 37-16 defines public property to include sidewalks, parkways, rights-of-way, highways, medians, public squares and parks. For those trees, the code says:

• A permit is always required for the removal of any tree from public property by any person (Sec. 37-19(f)).
• A property owner may not employ anyone other than a parish-licensed tree service to trim or remove a tree on public property (Sec. 37-19(c)).
• To qualify as a parish-licensed tree service operator, the operator must be licensed as an arborist by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (Sec. 37-20(a)).
• Violations can bring fines and possible jail time, and each tree and each day can count as a separate offense (Sec. 37-26).

Our work is on private property. If the tree giving you trouble grows on the parish strip, we can talk through what your situation may need, and the Jefferson Parish Department of Parkways confirms the requirements and who may do the work.

For a tree that stands entirely on your own lot, the parish tree rules covered on this page do not set a general removal permit for River Ridge. River Ridge also sits outside the Old Metairie and Metairie Ridge tree-preservation districts, where the parish does regulate certain private trees. Rules can change and can depend on the project, so check with the Department of Parkways before removal if you have any doubt.

Signs a River Ridge tree may need to come down

Plenty of trees that look rough can be saved with good pruning, and removal should follow an inspection. Warning signs that often justify a closer look include:

• Large dead limbs or a canopy that leafs out thinly on one side
• A lean that has changed recently, especially with cracked or heaving soil at the base
• Mushrooms, conks or soft, crumbling wood around the trunk or root flare
• Deep cracks or splits running through the trunk or a major fork
• Roots that have been cut or damaged by construction

Our guide to hazardous tree warning signs walks through these in more detail. When you are unsure whether a tree should stay, our arborist services in River Ridge page explains how an assessment works.

After Hurricane Ida: storm-damaged trees along the river

Storms are a big reason River Ridge homeowners call for removal. According to the National Hurricane Center’s report on Hurricane Ida, Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon on August 29, 2021, as a Category 4 hurricane, and all power was lost in Jefferson Parish, a failure the report says was aided by the collapse of a large transmission tower along the Mississippi River west of New Orleans. The report does not count downed trees community by community, but storms like Ida can leave trees with split trunks, torn roots and hanging limbs that are hard to judge from the ground.

After a storm, keep people and pets away from any tree that is leaning onto a structure or tangled with wires. We also handle emergency tree removal, so call us to talk through what you are seeing. For a step-by-step look at what to expect, see our article on storm-damaged tree removal.

Power lines come first

If limbs touch or hang close to an overhead line, contact your electric utility before anyone else does anything. Louisiana law generally prohibits work that could bring a person, tool or piece of equipment within ten feet of a high-voltage overhead line, meaning a line carrying more than 600 volts (La. R.S. 45:141 et seq.). The utility can tell you what it will handle and what has to wait until the line is made safe.

Questions to ask any River Ridge tree company

A prudent homeowner asks the same questions of every company that bids, including us:

• What is your Louisiana arborist license number? The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry states that an arborist license is required to work on trees for a fee. You can check any number through LDAF’s published list, which our arborist page links to.
• Can I see a certificate of insurance? A certificate shows coverage reported at a point in time. It is not the policy, and any claim is subject to policy terms.
• What exactly is in the written scope? Confirm which trees, whether the stump is included, and whether debris is hauled away.
• Who contacts the parish if a public tree is involved? Get the answer in writing before work starts.

We work in nearby communities too, including tree removal in Harahan and tree removal in Kenner.

Get a free tree removal estimate in River Ridge

If a tree on your River Ridge property has you worried, let us take a look. Estimates are free on all of our services. Request your free estimate online or call us at 504-732-9714.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my River Ridge yard?

Our research did not find a Jefferson Parish permit requirement for removing a tree that stands entirely on a private River Ridge lot. River Ridge sits outside the parish’s Old Metairie and Metairie Ridge tree-preservation districts. Rules can change, so confirm with the Jefferson Parish Department of Parkways before work begins.

Who handles the tree between the sidewalk and the street?

Jefferson Parish treats sidewalks, parkways and rights-of-way as public property under Chapter 37 of the parish code. A permit is always required to remove a tree from public property, and owners may only hire a parish-licensed tree service for that work. Contact the Department of Parkways to confirm what applies to your tree.

Is River Ridge part of Metairie or Harahan?

No, River Ridge is its own unincorporated community and census-designated place in Jefferson Parish. It borders Harahan to the east, Kenner to the northwest and Metairie to the north.

Can you remove a tree that is touching power lines?

Call your electric utility first when limbs touch or hang near an overhead line. Louisiana law generally prohibits work that brings a person or tool within ten feet of a line carrying more than 600 volts. Once the utility has made the line safe, we can talk through the rest of the job.

Do you offer emergency tree removal after storms?

Yes, emergency tree removal is one of the services we offer. Call 504-732-9714 to describe the damage, and keep everyone away from trees that are leaning on a structure or caught in wires.

Is the estimate really free?

Yes, estimates are free on all of our services. We assess the tree, explain the scope and give you a written estimate before any work is scheduled.