Standing-condition scope · Mobile, AL
Dead & Hazardous Tree Removal in Mobile, AL
A standing tree in Mobile, AL that worries you — a dead or declining pine, major canopy loss, a new lean, trunk cracks, a cavity, mushrooms at the base, or roots cut during construction — is the decision this page covers, at homes, rentals, and commercial property. If the tree has already failed or is resting on something, use the emergency page instead. The technical frame that matters: in the ISA and Alabama Extension framework, risk is a function of a defect and a target — not the defect alone.
Independent service-request website. Calls and forms may be shared with a third-party provider. The provider confirms availability, pricing, and service terms.
A defect is a reason to assess, not proof of removal
Most pages competing for this search treat every dead limb as a countdown. The honest version: Alabama Extension states that without a potential target, a tree does not qualify as a hazard. The same crack can lead to removal beside a bedroom and monitoring at the back of a wooded lot. The defect starts the conversation; the target and setting decide it. This page exists to get you to a qualified evaluation, not to alarm you into a removal you may not need.
Source: Alabama Cooperative Extension tree-risk guidance. Verified July 27, 2026.
What you can observe, and what gets evaluated
| What you see | What a qualified provider evaluates | Why it matters | Useful next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown needles or bare limbs on a pine | How far decline has progressed and how the wood will hold rigging | Dead pines dry and become unpredictable to work quickly | Note when it started; photograph from a distance |
| A new or worsening lean | Root-plate movement, soil heave, cracks at the base | A lean that changed recently is different from one the tree grew with | Compare against old photos if you have them |
| Mushrooms or conks on the trunk or roots | Which fungus, and what it indicates about internal decay | Some fungi indicate significant structural decay; some do not | Photograph the growth without disturbing it |
| Cavity or hollow section | Remaining sound-wall thickness relative to the load | Trees can stand safely with cavities — the ratio is the question | Do not probe or fill it; note its size and height |
| Roots cut or ground disturbed by construction | Which side lost support, and what the wind loading is | Root loss can take seasons to show in the canopy | Note what work happened, when, and how close |
Observe from a distance. Do not climb anything, stand under a hanging limb, or approach a leaning tree to measure it.
The three assessment levels — and the question to ask
- Level 1 — limited visual: a walk-by or drive-by scan of a defined population of trees, from one side.
- Level 2 — basic: a 360-degree ground inspection of the tree, its root flare, and its site, with simple tools.
- Level 3 — advanced: instrumented work when a Level 2 raises questions — sonic tomography, resistance drilling, root excavation, load analysis, laboratory testing, or aerial inspection.
The practical point: ask whether you are buying a removal quote or a tree-risk assessment, because they are not automatically the same service. A removal quote prices taking the tree down; an assessment documents whether it should come down. A claimed ISA credential can be verified in the ISA credential directory — verify it there rather than taking a truck decal's word for it.
Sources: ISA tree-risk assessment framework; Alabama Cooperative Extension. Verified July 27, 2026.
Permit screening for a standing removal
Inside the City of Mobile, species and trunk diameter (DBH) decide whether a $75-per-tree permit applies — a dead tree is not automatically exempt, and the City makes the final determination. The complete current matrix, Heritage Tree list, and fee caps are maintained on the main Mobile tree-removal guide — one to two sentences here is deliberate; the homepage owns that table.
Utility first
What changes the price of a hazardous removal
- Height and trunk diameter.
- Condition and predictability of the wood — dead wood limits how it can be climbed and rigged.
- Targets below: structures, fences, plantings, hardscape.
- Equipment access — backyard trees without machine access price differently.
- Rigging complexity when pieces must be lowered instead of dropped.
- Utility proximity and any coordination it requires.
- Stump scope — grinding is a separate line item.
- Debris volume and haul-off.
No Mobile dollar figure appears here because none would be honest sight-unseen. National cost-guide figures, with sources and dates, are on the homepage cost section.
What this page cannot settle
This page does not assign your tree a risk level, predict failure, or tell you whether the tree is dangerous. No website can. What it can do is route you to the two useful next steps: a qualified on-site evaluation, and — if removal is the outcome — a provider who prices the actual tree. Related decisions: what happens to the stump and whether pruning is the alternative.
What to have ready when you call
- Where the tree stands and what is near it — house, fence, drive, play area, parking.
- What changed and when: lean, dieback, fungus, construction near the roots.
- Whether anything electrical is anywhere in the picture (if a line is involved, 1-800-888-2726 first).
- Whether you want the stump handled, and what should happen to the wood.
- Photos from a safe distance, to share with the provider after contact.
Call (251) 306-0676 or use the request form. The provider confirms scope, availability, timing, and price directly with you — the process is documented in how service requests work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a dead tree needs to come down?
You don't have to decide that alone, and this page will not decide it for you. A dead or declining tree near a house, driveway, play area, or parking is the classic case for an on-site evaluation, because deadwood becomes less predictable to climb and rig over time — waiting can raise the cost and narrow the options. A dead tree far from any target is a different conversation. A qualified provider or arborist looks at the defect, the target, and the setting together.
What is a tree-risk assessment and do I need one?
It is a documented evaluation of a tree's condition and the targets around it, separate from a removal quote. The ISA/Extension framework has three levels: Level 1 is a limited visual check, Level 2 is a basic ground inspection, and Level 3 is advanced work with tools like sonic tomography or resistance drilling. If you want to know whether the tree can stay, ask for an assessment. If you have already decided it comes out, a removal quote is the service. Ask which one you are buying — they are not automatically the same.
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree in Mobile?
It depends on where the property is and what species and size the tree is — condition alone does not settle it. Inside the City of Mobile, protected species at permit size can require a $75-per-tree permit even when dead, and the City makes the final determination. The full permit matrix is on the homepage; check it before scheduling work.
Can a tree that still looks healthy be hazardous?
Yes. Green leaves do not settle the removal decision either way. A tree can hold a full canopy while carrying a root problem, internal decay, or a structural crack — and a rough-looking tree can be structurally sound. That is exactly why the evaluation looks at structure and targets, not color.
Worried about a standing tree? Describe it
Tell us the service, the issue, and your city. A provider will confirm availability, timing, and pricing.