Emergency Tree Service in Sacramento: Fallen Trees and Storm Damage
Fallen Trees? Storm Damage? Hazardous Leaning? Our crew is on standby 24/7 to make your property safe again.
If a tree has fallen on your house, car, or driveway in the Sacramento area, get everyone away from it first. If a power line is down or touching the tree, assume it's live: call 911, then your electric utility (SMUD in its service area), and don't touch the tree or anything it's resting on. Photograph the damage before anything is moved, then call a tree service. TreeMax typically responds the same day.
First, make it safe
Do these four things, then call.
Get people and pets away from the tree and anything it's touching.
If a line is down or touching the tree, assume it's energized. Call 911 first, then the utility (SMUD in its territory, or your electric utility in Roseville and the Placer areas). Don't touch the tree or anything in contact with it.
Don't climb, cut, or move anything under tension.
Photograph everything before anything moves. See what to photograph for insurance.
Call us: (916) 580-7932. We typically respond the same day.
What counts as a tree emergency?
Fallen tree removal and a storm-damaged tree on a house, car, or driveway are emergencies. Emergency tree trimming and pruning are the same work when a broken limb has to come down now.
Storm Damage
High winds and heavy rains can break limbs, split trunks, and compromise the entire tree, creating an immediate hazard.
Fallen Trees
A tree that has fallen on your house, car, or is blocking your driveway requires urgent and professional removal.
Hazardous Leaning
If a tree suddenly starts leaning, or if you see cracks in the trunk or soil heaving at the base, it may be about to fail.
Root Heave
Visible lifting of the ground around the tree's base is a critical sign that the root system is failing and the tree could fall.
Also call for these
- Limbs hanging over a doorway, driveway, or walkway.
- A tree blocking the only access.
What usually can wait for a scheduled visit
You can typically schedule non-emergency service if: Branches fell into your yard but away from structures and people; a smaller ornamental tree went down in an open area; the damage is purely aesthetic (broken limbs that didn't fall on anything); or the affected tree is in a back corner of the property where no one will be walking. In these cases, securing the area and scheduling service within a few days is completely appropriate.
More on this is in what to do after storm damage.
Warning signs a tree may fail in the next storm
The City of Sacramento says to treat soil heaving at the base seriously. Watch for soil lifting or cracking at the base, a new or worsening lean, cracks or splits, dead or hanging limbs, and mushrooms at the base.
If a tree near your home shows these signs, call us before the storm.
Read preparing trees for Sacramento storm season and see hazardous limb removal.
Power lines: call 911 and the utility first
If a line is down or touching the tree, assume it's energized. Call 911 first, then the utility. Don't touch the tree or anything in contact with it. In SMUD's territory, call SMUD. In Roseville and the Placer areas, call your electric utility.
SMUD says to call for sparking or downed lines only after calling 911 first, and for outages. SMUD prunes or cuts storm-damaged trees near its lines to restore power. SMUD states: "It's the property owner's responsibility to remove and dispose of the tree debris on their property."
That debris on private property is where we come in, after the lines are safe. We don't work on trees touching energized lines until the utility has made them safe.
The City of Sacramento tells residents to treat a wire touching a tree as energized, not to touch the tree, and to call 311 in storms.
Whose tree is it?
In the City of Sacramento, the city handles street and park trees (call 311), but a private tree that falls is the property owner's responsibility. Citrus Heights says the same about trees that fall from your yard. After a utility clears its lines, the debris left on your property is yours to remove.
Citrus Heights says a tree in the roadway or on a sidewalk goes to the city during business hours, or to the police outside those hours. A tree that fell from your yard is your responsibility. City of Sacramento crews clear the right-of-way, and private-tree emergencies stay with the owner. Call 311.
If the tree is a neighbor's, talk to your insurer.
Do you need a permit for emergency removal?
Sacramento County allows removal of a hazardous tree with permission from Public Works during working hours, or from the fire district at other times. The City of Sacramento code has no written emergency exemption for protected trees, so call 311. Confirm which rule applies where you live before any cutting starts.
The city and county guides cover the standing rules: City of Sacramento tree permits and Sacramento County tree permits.
Insurance: we handle the paperwork
Before cleanup, photograph the damage from several angles, wide and close. Include damage to the structure, fence, or car, and note the date and time. Do this before anything is moved.
TreeMax provides the paperwork insurers ask for after storm damage: an itemized invoice and, when the insurer requests it, documentation that supports the pricing. Whether the removal is covered depends on your policy, so check with your insurer or agent.
We're very familiar with insurance claim procedures and can walk you through what your adjuster will need. Coverage depends on your policy. Check with your insurer or agent.
How an emergency visit works
Call
When you call (916) 580-7932, you'll speak with a person who will gather essential information and dispatch our on-call crew immediately, day or night.
We typically respond the same day.
Assess and secure the area
Upon arrival, our first priority is to assess the situation and secure the area. We establish a safety zone and determine the safest method for removal or stabilization.
Remove the highest hazard first
We address the most critical threat first. This could mean removing a limb that's over your roof or clearing a tree from your driveway to restore access.
Removal and cleanup
Once the situation is stable, we proceed with the full removal of the tree and debris. We aim to leave your property as clean and safe as possible, even in an emergency.
Your estimate is provided by an ISA Certified Arborist; the work is done by our own crews.
If the tree can be kept, we remove the hazard first and plan follow-up pruning for the dormant season. Trimming and pruning are the same work. Light maintenance pruning and trimming can happen year-round, and heavier pruning is timed. Urgent hazards are a separate job from that schedule.
Emergency work is priced differently from scheduled work, because a crew is dispatched right away and a block of time is reserved for your job.
If the tree has to come out, see tree removal. For the limb work, see tree pruning. Emergency tree trimming and pruning are the same work.
Serving the Greater Sacramento Area 24/7
When a tree emergency strikes, you need a local team that can get there fast. TreeMax is proud to offer rapid emergency response to our neighbors in:
Sacramento includes Midtown and South Sacramento.
We also respond to emergency calls in El Dorado County. Scheduled (non-emergency) work is limited to the areas above.
Emergency Service FAQ
What counts as a tree emergency?
A tree emergency is any situation where a tree poses an immediate risk to people or property. This includes fallen trees on structures, trees blocking access, large broken or hanging limbs, split trunks, or a tree that is actively leaning or uprooting. Limbs hanging over a doorway, driveway, or walkway, and a tree blocking the only access, are emergencies too.
What if a tree is on a power line?
If a line is down or touching the tree, assume it's energized. Call 911 first, then the utility (SMUD in its territory, and your electric utility in Roseville and the Placer areas), and don't touch the tree or anything in contact with it. We don't work on trees touching energized lines until the utility has made them safe.
Whose responsibility is a fallen tree?
In the City of Sacramento, the city handles street and park trees (call 311), but a private tree that falls is the property owner's responsibility. Citrus Heights says the same about trees that fall from your yard, and a tree in the road goes to the city during business hours or to the police outside those hours. After a utility clears its lines, the debris left on your property is yours to remove, and a neighbor's tree is a question for your insurer.
Do I need a permit for emergency tree removal?
Sacramento County allows removal of a hazardous tree with permission from Public Works during working hours, or from the fire district at other times. The City of Sacramento code has no written emergency exemption for protected trees, so call 311. Confirm the rule for your city before any cutting starts.
Will my homeowner's insurance cover emergency tree removal?
We provide the paperwork insurers ask for: an itemized invoice and, when the insurer requests it, documentation that backs up our pricing. We're very familiar with insurance claim procedures and can walk you through what your adjuster will need. Coverage depends on your policy. Check with your insurer or agent.
How quickly can you respond to an emergency call?
We prioritize emergency calls and dispatch a crew as quickly as possible, 24/7. We typically respond the same day. We also respond to emergency calls in El Dorado County. Scheduled (non-emergency) work is limited to Citrus Heights, Antelope, Carmichael, Sacramento, Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Granite Bay, and Loomis.
Is emergency work priced differently?
Emergency work is priced differently from scheduled work, because a crew is dispatched right away and a block of time is reserved for your job. Your estimate is provided by an ISA Certified Arborist; the work is done by our own crews.
Don't Wait. Get Professional Help Now.
Tree emergencies are stressful and dangerous. Let our licensed and insured team handle it safely. We're ready to take your call.