--- title: "Cincinnati Street Tree Removal Permit Cost: Who Pays What" description: "In Cincinnati, a resident who asks to remove a public tree pays the appraised value plus removal and stump grinding before the permit is approved." url: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/cincinnati-street-tree-removal-permit-cost publisher: Cincinnati Stump Grinding phone: +1-513-587-6772 quote: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact --- # Cincinnati Street Tree Removal Permit Cost: Who Pays What Cincinnati Parks Urban Forestry says that if a public tree is removed because a resident asked, the requesting party pays the appraised value of the tree, plus the cost for removal and stump grinding, before permit approval. The page lists no dollar amounts. A forester inspects the tree first. Local: CincinnatiPublished October 26, 20264 min read ## What does a Cincinnati street tree removal cost the resident? If you ask the city to remove a public tree, you pay three things before the permit is approved. They are the appraised value of the tree, the cost of removal, and the cost of stump grinding. That comes straight from the Cincinnati Parks Urban Forestry page. The exact sentence reads: “If the tree is to be removed due to the request, the requesting party will be required to pay the appraised value of the tree, as well as the cost for removal and stump grinding, prior to permit approval.” The page gives no dollar figures. This post gives none either. A forester sets the appraised value after an inspection, so ask your district forester for the numbers on your tree. ## What does each part of the charge mean? The page names the parts but does not define them. The table below shows what each part is based on the plain wording, and what the page leaves open. Charge What it is What the page says about the amount Appraised value of the tree The value placed on the public tree being removed No amount listed Cost of removal Taking the tree down No amount listed Cost of stump grinding Grinding the stump after removal No amount listed Notice that stump grinding is part of the bill. The stump is not a surprise extra. The city counts it with the removal. For background on how [tree removal](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/tree-removal) and stump work are priced apart, see [what the quote should list for stump vs tree removal](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/stump-vs-tree-removal-what-the-quote-should-list). ## When does the requester pay? Only when the removal happens because of the request. The page says “if the tree is to be removed due to the request.” It does not say what happens when the city removes a tree on its own, and this post does not guess. The city’s own role is stated clearly. Cincinnati Parks Urban Forestry says its team “is responsible for the maintenance of all City street trees, or any trees in a right-of-way.” A [street tree](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/street-tree) in the tree lawn is public, so the city decides what happens to it. ## How do I get the Public Tree Work Permit? The Urban Forestry page describes four steps. A [public tree work permit](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/public-tree-work-permit) is required by Cincinnati Municipal Code Chapter 743-7 for work on or near a public tree, or for planting within the right of way. 1. Download the fillable PDF permit from the Urban Forestry site. 2. Submit it to your District Urban Forester. 3. The forester reviews the permit and inspects the tree to decide the best course of action for the scope of the work. 4. If the tree will be removed because of your request, pay the appraised value plus removal and stump grinding before the permit is approved. The page says the permit exists “to ensure the health of public trees and safety of pedestrians are maintained.” If you want to talk it over first, the page lists the Division of Natural Resources at 513-861-9070, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ## What if I only need the stump gone? That is a different request. For a stump left from a public tree, Cincinnati has a separate 311Cincy request. Forestry staff check whether the stump is already on the list and scheduled for grinding. If it is not, a forester investigates and updates you. The full steps are in [who grinds the stump in front of my Cincinnati house](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/who-grinds-the-stump-in-front-of-my-cincinnati-house). Ownership is the first question for any stump near the street. The right of way belongs to the public, and the tree lawn sits inside it. Read [who owns the stump on the tree lawn](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/who-owns-the-stump-on-the-tree-lawn) before you hire anyone. ## What should I check before I pay? - Ask the forester for the appraised value in writing. - Ask what the removal and stump grinding charges cover. - Ask when the permit is approved and when the work happens. - Do not start any work on or near a public tree before the permit is approved. The code requires the permit before the work. Cincinnati Stump Grinding is a private company. It does not work with the city program and does not issue or process city permits. The city sets and collects these charges. For pricing on your own lot, see [stump grinding cost](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-cost). For local pages, see [stump grinding in Cincinnati](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/stump-grinding/cincinnati-oh). The page was read on October 26, 2026. Check the Urban Forestry page for current rules. ## Next step Read [before you grind: 811, tree lawn and permits](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/before-you-grind-811-tree-lawn-permits) for the full picture on public and private ground. For a stump on your own lot, call (513) 587-6772 or [send photos for a free estimate](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact). ## Frequently asked questions ### How much does a Cincinnati public tree work permit cost? The Urban Forestry page does not list a dollar amount. It says the requesting party pays the appraised value of the tree plus the cost for removal and stump grinding, before the permit is approved. Ask your district forester for the figures. ### Who needs a Public Tree Work Permit in Cincinnati? The page says the Cincinnati Municipal Code requires one before any work on or near a public tree, or before planting a new tree within the right of way. The permit exists to protect tree health and pedestrian safety. ### Who do I send the permit form to? The page says to download the fillable PDF and send it to your District Urban Forester. The forester reviews the permit and inspects the tree to decide the best course of action for the scope of work. ## Terms on this page - [Public tree work permit](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/public-tree-work-permit) - [Stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-grinding) - [Urban forestry](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/urban-forestry) - [Right-of-way](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/right-of-way) - [Tree removal](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/tree-removal) - [Street tree](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/street-tree) - [Tree lawn](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/tree-lawn) ## Sources 1. [Cincinnati Parks: Urban Forestry](https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks/natural-resources/urban-forestry/) 2. [Cincinnati 311: Tree Stump Removal on Public Property](https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/311/requests/tstumpuf/) Written by Cincinnati Stump Grinding and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. City rules and product guidance change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Before you grind: 811, the tree lawn and street tree permitsThe Ohio and Kentucky statutes tell an excavator to notify 811 before excavation. The Ohio definition of excavation does not name stump grinding, so ask OHIO811 or Kentucky 811 if you are unsure. The call is free. A stump on the tree lawn follows city rules, and those rules differ by town.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/before-you-grind-811-tree-lawn-permits) - [Who owns the stump on the tree lawn, and who grinds it?It depends on the town. Cincinnati takes a 311 request for stumps of city-maintained trees. Wyoming says the city grinds them. Milford and Hamilton name the property owner. Covington and Fort Thomas require city permission to remove a street tree. Read your city page before you hire anyone.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/who-owns-the-stump-on-the-tree-lawn) - [Who Grinds the Stump in Front of My Cincinnati House?In Cincinnati, a stump on a city-maintained tree lawn or right of way goes through the 311Cincy tree stump request, which routes to Cincinnati Parks Urban Forestry. Staff check whether the stump is already on the grinding list. If it is not, a forester investigates and reports back. A stump on private ground is the owner's to handle.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/who-grinds-the-stump-in-front-of-my-cincinnati-house) - [Stump grinding cost: what shapes the price and what to askStump grinding cost depends mostly on stump width, measured at its widest point. Many pros price by the inch and add a minimum charge. Access, wood type, depth and cleanup change the total. Published guides show wide ranges, so a quote for your own stump is the only number that counts.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/stump-grinding-cost) - [Covington Street Tree Permit: What It Means for Your StumpCovington asks you to fill out a Street Tree Permit before you plant, prune or remove a tree in the strip between the sidewalk and the street. Some permits carry a nominal fee. Trees on private property generally fall outside city regulation, except in a historic overlay zone or on certain hillsides.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/covington-street-tree-permit-and-your-stump) - [Stump vs Tree Removal: What the Quote Should ListA tree removal quote should say whether the stump is included. Angi says a standard tree removal does not include stump grinding. Look for separate lines for removal, grinding depth, wood chips and fill. If the stump is missing from the quote, ask for it as its own line.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/stump-vs-tree-removal-what-the-quote-should-list)