Which tree services can you get in Mount Pleasant?
We refer four jobs in Mount Pleasant, each with its own page:
- Tree removal: dead, leaning, diseased or storm-damaged trees. Inside Town limits, a protected tree needs the permit described below before it comes down.
- Tree trimming: live oaks, pines and palms. Ask the crew how it prunes, and ask the Town before cutting back a large protected tree heavily. Care tips are in our live oak and palmetto guide.
- Stump grinding: usually the step after a removal. The crew or you should call 811 before any digging. Other ways to remove one are in our stump removal guide.
- Emergency tree removal: a tree on the house, a car or the road. We do not promise a response time; the crew gives you one when you call.
How much does tree removal cost in Mount Pleasant?
LawnStarter (page dated October 14, 2026) lists these Mount Pleasant averages. They are ballpark figures, and the reliable number is a written quote after a crew sees the tree.
| Job | Small tree | Medium tree | Large tree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree removal | $315 | $864 | $2,166 |
| Tree trimming | $107 | $344 | $912 |
The same page puts stump grinding cost at about $250. Trimming prices by height and species are in our tree trimming cost guide. What moves the price:
- Height and trunk width, and how many pieces the crew has to lower on ropes.
- Access: a tree over the house or near power lines costs more than one in an open yard.
- Whether cleanup and haul-away are included. Ask before you agree.
- The $50 Town permit, if the tree is protected and inside Town limits.
Prices for all four towns side by side are in our tree removal cost guide. More on how crews price jobs is on the tree removal page.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Mount Pleasant?
Only for a protected tree inside the Town of Mount Pleasant. On residential lots, the Town protects trees of 16 inches or more in diameter, measured 4.5 feet above the ground (DBH), and pines of 24 inches or more (Town of Mount Pleasant trees page). Smaller trees on a house lot are not listed as protected, but trees in buffers, critical areas, easements or rights-of-way can be protected at any size. If your tree is close to the limit, confirm with the Town.
| Tree | Protected when |
|---|---|
| Most species on a residential lot | 16 inches DBH or more |
| Pine | 24 inches DBH or more |
| Live oak | 16 inches DBH or more (live oak is not on the exempt list) |
| Sweet gum, Callery pear, river birch, mimosa, chinaberry, Chinese tallow, camphor, white poplar, mulberry, Leyland cypress | Exempt on residential lots |
Commercial properties protect trees of 8 inches and larger, according to Live 5 News.
How the process works, in four steps:
- Measure. Wrap a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet up and divide by 3.14 to get the diameter.
- Apply online. Submit the request in OPAL, the Town’s permitting system, with a non-refundable $50 application fee paid before review.
- Get the inspection. A Town inspection checks the tree’s health, whether removal is allowed and whether replanting (mitigation) is required. Passing it does not approve the permit.
- Finish in OPAL. Sign in, read the inspection comments, name the tree company doing the work and, if replanting is required, submit the mitigation affidavit.
Town staff do not give tree consultations or evaluations, so a certified arborist or a crew has to tell you the tree’s condition. Questions go to trees@tompsc.com or 843-884-1229. The other towns’ rules are in our tree removal permit guide.
Is your Mount Pleasant address inside the Town limits?
Not always. The Town’s tree rules apply only inside its corporate limits, and a “Mount Pleasant” mailing address can sit outside them (zoning code). The Town’s mapping tool searches by address or Tax Map number (Town GIS FAQ), and the Planning staff at 843-884-1229 can tell you which jurisdiction covers a borderline address.
If you are outside the Town, the rules of Charleston County or another town apply instead; the permit guide compares them. Summerville, for example, protects any tree of 8 inches or more; see tree service in Summerville. North Charleston asks the contractor to apply; see tree service in North Charleston. A homeowners association can add its own approval on top of any government permit.
What changed in Mount Pleasant’s tree rules in 2025?
The Town updated its zoning code in 2025. According to Live 5 News (May 2025), pines are now protected at 24 inches, the protection zone around a tree is measured as a one-foot radius per inch of trunk diameter, and the minimum replacement tree dropped from 4 inches to a 2-inch caliper. The Town’s own page lists the $50 fee and the current size limits, so check it before you plan a removal.
If you read an older article or a crew’s website, confirm the numbers against the Town page. The rules changed recently enough that some sources still show the old ones.
What if a storm drops a tree on your house in Mount Pleasant?
Stay clear of the tree and anything it touches, and call 911 if a line is down or anyone is hurt. If the tree is on or near a power line, the utility has to make it safe before a crew can start; your power bill shows which utility serves you. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. To get your trees ready before then, use our hurricane tree preparation checklist.
The permit rules still matter after a storm. The zoning code lets Town Council or its designee waive the tree requirements during an emergency such as a hurricane, and cutting fallen or severely damaged trees is allowed until Council decides otherwise (Chapter 156). That depends on the Town actually waiving the rules, so call the Town at 843-884-1229 before cutting a large protected tree. Our emergency tree removal page covers insurance, costs and what to do first.
How does our referral work in Mount Pleasant?
Charleston SC Tree Service is a referral service, not a tree care company. You tell us about the tree, and we connect you with an independent, locally owned crew that carries its own insurance and, where required, its own license. The quote is free and you decide whether to hire. Before you agree to a price, ask for proof of insurance and whether the crew has filed in OPAL before. How our referral service works explains what happens after you call, and the full list of service areas shows the towns around Mount Pleasant.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to cut down a tree in Mount Pleasant?
LawnStarter lists Mount Pleasant averages of $315 for a small tree, $864 for a medium tree and $2,166 for a large tree. Add the $50 Town permit if the tree is protected and inside Town limits. The reliable number is a written quote after a crew sees the tree.
How much does tree trimming cost in Mount Pleasant?
LawnStarter lists Mount Pleasant trimming averages of $107 for a small tree, $344 for a medium tree and $912 for a large tree. Height, access and how much needs to come off move the price, so the reliable number is a written quote after a crew sees the tree.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Mount Pleasant?
Inside Town limits, yes for a protected tree: 16 inches DBH or more on a residential lot, or 24 inches or more for a pine, unless the species is exempt. Trees in buffers, easements or rights-of-way can be protected at any size. The application fee is $50 and is filed in OPAL.
My address says Mount Pleasant. Do the Town rules apply to me?
Only if the property is inside Town limits. A Mount Pleasant mailing address can sit outside them. Call Planning at 843-884-1229 or use the Town’s mapping tool by address or Tax Map number, and if you are outside the Town, check the county or the town that covers you.