Emergency & fallen tree removal: Tacoma
Get one local company to call you back →
We're a referral service, not a tree company. We pass your request to one independent, L&I-registered tree company that serves your area; that company quotes and does the work. We can't promise same-day service. How it works.
Who to call, in order
| Situation | Call | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Line down or sparking, anyone hurt or trapped, gas smell | 911 | TPU, PSE |
| Tacoma Power area: outage, broken line or broken pole | TPU outage line 253-502-8602 | Tacoma Public Utilities |
| Tacoma Power area: a hazardous tree near power lines (not yet down) | TPU 253-502-8729. TPU removes trees and debris that a qualified contractor isn't permitted to remove. | TPU |
| PSE area (much of Pierce County outside Tacoma Power) | PSE 1-888-225-5773 or 911 | PSE |
| City street tree (between sidewalk and street) is an imminent hazard | City of Tacoma (253) 591-5495 | Tacoma Permits |
| Tree on your house, car or blocking your driveway, with no lines involved | Your insurer or agent, then an L&I-registered tree company | WA Insurance Commissioner |
What to do safely while you wait
- Get everyone out of any room the tree is resting on. Near a downed line, PSE says not to try to rescue a person or pet; leave it to emergency crews. If a line falls on your car, stay inside until you know the line is de-energized (PSE).
- Leave anything touching wires alone. PSE's guidance is to leave everything to utility professionals and emergency personnel.
- Photograph everything: the tree, the base and roots, and all damage. The Insurance Commissioner advises contacting your insurer or agent as soon as possible and taking photos or video.
- Limit further damage if it's safe, such as tarping a roof opening, but don't make permanent repairs before your insurer sees it.
- Check registration before anyone works. Tree removal is contractor work in Washington (RCW 18.27.010). Look the company up at L&I Verify and ask for proof of insurance.
- Split the job. If nothing is still threatened, CostFigure notes the easiest saving is turning same-day work into scheduled work. Ask for the urgent "make safe" part now and the cleanup, hauling and stump grinding later.
Insurance basics
- Homeowner insurance usually covers damage from falling trees and the removal needed when a tree lands on a covered structure such as your home, garage or car (WA OIC).
- It usually doesn't cover removing a tree that fell in the yard and hit nothing.
- If a neighbor's tree falls on your house, your own insurer will often pay, minus the deductible, and may pursue the neighbor's insurer if they were at fault.
- Even if your agent recommends a contractor, check that it's registered with the state.
What makes emergency removal cost more
There's no published Tacoma-specific emergency price survey. Our cost guide's Tacoma averages are for scheduled work; ProMatcher's Tacoma figures specifically exclude hazards, fallen trees and emergency work. What published sources say about emergencies:
- Timing: same-day, night, weekend or holiday work typically adds about 25–50% (costtoremoveatree.com). A 2026 Whatcom County company guide puts emergency rates at 50–100% above standard (Cascade ProScapes).
- A tree resting on a structure, or needing a crane, can cost two to three times the standard price, because it has to be lifted or lowered in sections (costtoremoveatree.com).
- Power lines mean waiting for the utility and extra coordination. In Puyallup, work within 15 ft of energized lines is the utility's job.
- Access and ground: narrow side yards and wet, soft ground limit equipment and add labor (CostFigure, Washington).
- Storm demand: after a big windstorm, every crew is booked, and prices rise with demand (Cascade ProScapes; costtoremoveatree.com).
- For scale only: CostFigure's Washington model (not contractor quotes) puts a routine scheduled 30–60 ft removal at about $633–$1,656, a same-day storm response on a 60–80 ft tree with difficult access at about $3,289–$10,433, and scheduled cleanup of a 30–60 ft tree that's already down at about $364–$1,242.
Ways to keep it down: if nothing is threatened, ask for a scheduled visit instead of same-day (CostFigure). Keeping the wood as firewood rounds can trim the bill (Cascade ProScapes). Get the scope in writing: removal, cleanup, hauling and stump grinding (call 811 two business days before any grinding).
Avoid storm-chasers
- Don't pay large cash deposits to door-knockers after a storm.
- Check L&I registration and proof of insurance before work starts.
- Get the price and scope in writing.
Emergency tree FAQ
A tree fell on a power line in Tacoma. Who do I call?
Call 911 and stay away. Tacoma Public Utilities says to assume a downed line is live, stay at least 30 feet away and call 911. It also takes reports of a broken line or pole at 253-502-8602. Puget Sound Energy says to stay at least 35 feet away and call 911 or 1-888-225-5773. A tree company should not cut a tree that's in the lines until the utility has made it safe.
When should I call 911 instead of a tree company?
Call 911 if a power line is down, sparking or touching the tree; if anyone is hurt or trapped; if you smell gas; or if a tree is blocking a road. A tree company handles the tree only after the scene is safe.
Does homeowners insurance pay to remove a fallen tree?
Per the WA Office of the Insurance Commissioner, homeowner policies usually cover damage from falling trees, but usually don't cover removal and cleanup unless the tree fell on your home, garage, car or a similar covered structure. A tree that only fell in the yard usually isn't covered. Deductibles apply. Check your own policy.
How much more does emergency tree removal cost?
Published estimates put same-day or after-hours premiums at roughly 25–50% over scheduled work (costtoremoveatree.com) and 50–100% in a 2026 Whatcom County company guide (Cascade ProScapes). Trees resting on a structure or needing a crane can run two to three times normal pricing. These are national or regional figures, not Tacoma quotes.
A city street tree fell in Tacoma. What do I do?
Report an imminent-hazard street tree to the City for emergency inspection at (253) 591-5495. Tacoma's street-tree rules say emergency removals still need City notification before removal and a Tree Work in the Right-of-Way permit within 30 days (Tacoma Permits tip sheet).
General information, not legal or insurance advice. Phone numbers and rules were checked on October 19, 2026 from the linked utility, city and state pages. More storm prep in our storm guide.
Tree down? Get one local company to call you back
Free, no obligation. We pass your request to one independent, L&I-registered tree company that serves your area. You get a quote from them directly. If we don't have a participating company for your job or town, we'll tell you so.