Kelowna Expert Tree Service: Tree Removal, Trimming & Land Clearing
Dead, leaning and storm-damaged trees taken down safely, plus pruning, lot clearing and FireSmart work from Peachland to Vernon. Free written quotes.
Last updated:
- Okanagan Communities
- 5
- Cleared in One Week
- 12 Acres
- For a Written Quote
- $0
- Owner on every job
- Licensed & insured
- Free written quotes
- Steep & tight-access removals
- Firewood stacked on request
Tree Removal & Tree Service in Kelowna
Kelowna Expert Tree Service takes down dead, leaning and storm-damaged trees, either by directional felling with an open notch and a controlled hinge or by sectional dismantling with rigging when there is no room to drop the stem. The same crew does crown thinning, crown reduction and deadwood pruning, emergency removals after a windstorm, land and lot clearing, forestry mulching and FireSmart fuel reduction. We work every day around ponderosa pine, interior Douglas-fir, black cottonwood and the big blue spruce and Norway maples planted in older yards, and every felling job follows WorkSafeBC rules for tree work and for work near power lines.
The owner quotes the job and runs the saw, so the person who promised to protect your fence is the person dropping the tree. Quotes are free, on site and in writing. We chip the brush, haul the wood or leave it stacked as firewood, and we take on the steep lots and tight backyards that other crews turn down.
- Free on-site written quotes
- Owner on site every job
- Chipping and haul-away included
- Firewood left on request
Residential Tree Removal & Tree Services
Nine jobs we do most often for Kelowna homeowners. Every one starts with a free look at the tree and a written price.
Tree Removal
A full takedown, from the top of the crown to a flush cut at the base. We plan the drop zone first, then fell the tree whole where there is room or bring it down in sections where there is not. Brush goes through the chipper, logs are hauled or bucked to firewood length, and the yard is raked before we leave.
Emergency Tree Removal
A pine across the driveway or a split cottonwood leaning on the roof cannot wait for next week. We answer storm calls by phone, make the site safe first, then lift or cut the tree off the structure in controlled pieces so nothing else breaks. Photos for your insurer are taken before we start.
Emergency tree removal
Dead & Hazard Tree Removal
A lean that is getting worse, a split trunk, mushrooms at the root flare or dead limbs over the house are all signs worth a look. Under Kelowna Bylaw No. 8041, a dangerous tree can come down before a permit is issued as long as it is reported to the City right away, and we help you do that.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Deadwood removal, clearance cuts away from roofs and lines, and shaping after storm damage, made to the ANSI A300 pruning standard. We keep each visit under 25% of the live crown so the tree recovers instead of throwing weak sprouts, and we prune most deciduous trees while they are dormant.
Tree trimming and pruning
Crown Reduction & Crown Thinning
Reduction shortens the longest limbs back to strong laterals so a tall maple or elm catches less wind. Thinning takes out crossing and crowded branches to let light and air through. Both replace topping, which leaves big wounds that let decay in and regrows as weakly attached sprouts.
Sectional Dismantling & Rigging
When a 25 m spruce stands between the house, the hot tub and the neighbour's garage, we climb it and take it down from the top. Each section is tied off and lowered on rope through a block, so limbs come down slowly instead of falling. It is the method for most tight Kelowna backyards.
Tree Removal Near Power Lines
WorkSafeBC sets a 3 m limit of approach to lines carrying 750 V to 75 kV, and only a certified utility arborist may work inside it. For the service wire to your house, FortisBC can drop the line temporarily, usually at no charge, and we book the rest of the job around that visit.
Pine Tree Removal
Ponderosa and lodgepole pines are hosts for mountain pine beetle, and western pine beetle attacks ponderosas over 15 cm across. Pitch tubes on the bark and a crown fading from green to red mean the tree is dying. We take beetle-killed pines down before they dry out and start dropping limbs.
Stump Grinding With Your Removal
Stump grinding is not a standalone service for us, but we can add it to your tree removal when you book the quote. A grinder takes the stump roughly 20 to 25 cm below grade, which leaves room for topsoil and sod, and the grindings can stay as mulch or go out with the brush.
Commercial Tree Removal & Land Clearing
Most of our work is for homeowners, but builders, stratas and rural owners call us for the same crew and the same written quotes. Open a line to see what we handle.
Builders and Developers
Lot clearing for a new build, from a single quarter-acre lot to multi-lot subdivisions, with trees felled, stumps pulled where the excavator needs them, and the site left ready for layout. We schedule around your survey and your permit, and we check the development permit areas before the first cut. See land and lot clearing.
Strata Corporations and Property Managers
Hazard trees over parking stalls, conifers too close to buildings, and pruning programs for common areas. One written quote per job, photos before and after, and work booked on weekdays so residents know when the driveway is closed.
Acreages, Ranches and Rural Properties
Pasture reclamation, fence-line clearing, overgrown bush and beetle-killed pine across acreage in Joe Rich, Lake Country and the North Okanagan. A forestry mulcher grinds standing brush and small trees in place, so there are no burn piles to manage.
Commercial Sites and Wildfire Fuel Breaks
Clearing on commercial lots and fuel reduction along the edges of properties that back onto forest, thinned to FireSmart spacing. We quote by the acre or by the hour, whichever suits the site.
Specialty Tree & Land Clearing Services
The work that sets our crew apart from a pickup-and-chainsaw outfit, from clearing a building lot to thinning a hillside for wildfire season.
Land & Lot Clearing
Residential and acreage clearing down to build-ready ground: trees felled, brush cleared, stumps handled the way your excavator needs them. A typical 0.25 to 0.5 acre building lot runs $1,300 to $3,900 to clear in 2026.
Land and lot clearingForestry Mulching
One machine with a toothed rotary drum cuts and grinds brush and small trees where they stand. The mulch stays on the ground to hold the soil, so there is no hauling and no burn pile. Published rates run $400 to $800 per acre.
Forestry mulchingFireSmart Wildfire Mitigation
Fuel reduction to FireSmart BC spacing: conifers out of the first 10 m around the house, crowns spaced 3 m apart in the 10 to 30 m zone and limbs pruned 2 m off the ground. Kelowna exempts this wildfire pruning from its tree permit.
FireSmart wildfire mitigationBrush Clearing & Bush Removal
Overgrown fence lines, wild rose and saskatoon thickets, and saplings that have taken over the back of the lot. We cut and chip or mulch it, depending on how far the brush runs and whether you want the ground bare or covered.
Steep-Slope & Hillside Tree Removal
Upper Mission, Black Mountain and Peachland lots often sit on slopes where a truck cannot park below the tree. We rig pieces uphill or across the slope, and on slopes of 30% or more in Kelowna we check the bylaw before work starts.
Invasive Tree Removal
Siberian elm, Russian olive and tree of heaven spread fast and crowd out native trees. All three are named invasive in Kelowna's Tree Protection Bylaw, so removing them needs no permit even in a protected area. We cut them low and talk through how to keep the root suckers from coming back.
How Much Does Tree Removal Cost in Kelowna?
Tree removal in Kelowna typically costs $525 to $3,150 per tree in 2026, and most single-tree jobs land near $1,260. A small ornamental under 20 ft can run $300 to $650, while a large pine over 80 ft beside a house can pass $3,000. Height, access and what sits underneath set the price.
A crane, a storm call-out or a tree inside the power line limit adds to the base price. We give every price in writing after we see the tree, so the number you sign is the number you pay.
| Job | Typical 2026 range | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree, under 20 ft | $300 to $650 | Open yard vs fenced backyard |
| Medium tree, 20 to 50 ft | $650 to $1,500 | Felled whole or dismantled |
| Large tree, 50 to 80 ft | $1,500 to $3,000 | Rigging, slope, nearby structures |
| Very large or hazard tree, 80 ft plus | $3,000 to $5,000+ | Crane, decay, lean toward the house |
| Emergency or after-hours removal | 30% to 100% above scheduled work | Tree on a roof, car or line |
| Removal near power lines | 25% to 50% premium | Utility arborist, line drop |
| Crane-assisted removal | Adds $600 to $1,500 | Crane size and set-up time |
| Pruning, per tree | $400 to $900 average | Tree size and how much is cut |
| Stump grinding with a removal | $3.50 to $6.00 per inch | $150 to $200 minimum |
Published Kelowna-area ranges for 2026, not a quote. Your price comes in writing after we see the tree.
The Kelowna Expert Tree Service Process
We Look at the Tree and the Drop Zone
On the first visit we check the lean, the root flare and the crown, then look at what is under it: the roof, the fence, the lines, the slope. That decides whether the tree is felled whole, dismantled or lifted out.
You Get a Written Price
The quote lists the trees, the method, cleanup, chipping and what happens to the wood. If the stump is coming out too, it is on the page. No verbal ballparks.
We Check the Permit Rules
Most Kelowna yards need no permit, but riparian areas and slopes of 30% or more do. West Kelowna, Peachland, Vernon and the regional district each have their own rules, and we tell you which apply before booking.
Felling or Dismantling, Done Safely
Ground protection goes down, the drop zone is taped off, and the tree comes down by the method in the quote. The owner is on site the whole time.
Cleanup, Chips and Firewood
Brush is chipped, logs are hauled or cut to rounds and stacked, and the lawn is raked and blown off. We walk the yard with you before we pack up.
Why Kelowna Homeowners Choose Our Tree Removal Crew
Owner-Run Tree Removal in Kelowna, Not a Rotating Crew
The person who quotes your job is on site when the work happens, from the first cut to the last rake. No subcontractor shows up with a different plan.
Hard-Access and Steep-Slope Tree Work Other Crews Pass On
Tall pines tight to a house, hillside lots in the Mission and narrow side yards with no truck access are normal jobs for us, planned with rigging instead of guesswork.
Licensed and Insured Tree Felling to WorkSafeBC Rules
Tree work in BC falls under WorkSafeBC regulation Part 26 for falling and Part 19 for work near energized lines. We work to both, and we carry insurance for the property we work over.
Land Clearing Equipment for Lots and Acreage
Beyond single trees, we run the equipment for building lots, acreage and fuel breaks, including forestry mulching that leaves no burn piles behind.
What Kelowna Customers Say
A few notes from recent jobs around the Central Okanagan.
Darren M.
September 2026Two big ponderosas leaning toward our deck in Glenmore. They took both down in pieces with ropes and nothing touched the deck or the hot tub. Raked the whole yard after.
Lisa K.
August 2026Windstorm put half a cottonwood on our carport at 7pm. Kelowna Expert Tree had it off the roof the next morning and took photos for the insurance claim.
Raj P.
July 2026Cleared our half-acre lot in Lake Country for the new build. Quote was in writing, the price did not change, and the excavator started on schedule.
Megan T.
June 2026FireSmart thinning on our place in Joe Rich. They explained the 10 m and 30 m zones and limbed everything up to 2 m. Took a day longer than planned because of the slope, but it was worth it.
Gord W.
May 2026Had three Siberian elms pruned back and one removed in Rutland. Fair price, clean work, and they left the rounds stacked by the shed for firewood.
Anne-Marie L.
April 2026Beetle-killed pine on a steep lot in the Upper Mission. Nobody else would quote it. The owner came out himself and had it down in an afternoon.
Do You Need a Permit to Remove a Tree in Kelowna?
Most Kelowna yards need no permit. The Tree Protection Bylaw No. 8041 applies only in Natural Environment and Hazardous Condition development permit areas, which means riparian management areas and slopes of 30% or more, and only to trees 100 mm or wider measured 1 m above grade. Where it applies, the permit costs $50.
Inside those areas the City asks for 2 to 8 replacement trees depending on trunk size, and fines run up to $10,000 per tree. Fruit trees, the three invasive species and pruning of limbs within 2 m of the ground for wildfire safety are exempt. A dangerous tree can be removed before the permit is issued if it is reported to the City immediately. Boulevard and park trees belong to the City and are never ours or yours to cut.
Outside Kelowna the rules change. Vernon needs a permit for trees over 8 cm on larger lots, Peachland protects trees over 75 cm, and West Kelowna and the regional district control removal through development permit areas. We check which rules apply to your address before the quote is final.
Tree Service Across the Central Okanagan
Kelowna Expert Tree Service works throughout Kelowna, including Rutland, Glenmore, the Upper Mission, Lower Mission, Kettle Valley and Black Mountain, and across the valley in West Kelowna, Westbank, Peachland, Lake Country, Winfield, Oyama, Joe Rich, Vernon and Coldstream.
View All Service AreasWhy Okanagan Trees Need a Local Crew
Kelowna sits in the Ponderosa Pine zone, the driest forested zone in BC, with only 250 to 450 mm of precipitation a year. Dry summers stress conifers and invite bark beetles, and a dead pine dries out and starts shedding limbs within a season or two.
Fire is the other reason. The 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire destroyed 239 homes, and in 2023 embers from the McDougall Creek fire crossed the lake into Kelowna. Knowing which trees to remove, which to limb up and how far to space them is local knowledge, and it changes what we recommend on every lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to remove a tree in Kelowna?
Most single residential trees come down in two to five hours, including chipping and cleanup. A large conifer that has to be dismantled over a house can take a full day, and a crane job adds set-up time. Lot clearing is quoted in days, depending on acreage and how dense the growth is.
Can you remove a tree that is very close to my house?
Yes. When there is no room to drop a tree, we climb it and take it down from the top in sections, lowering each piece on a rope through a pulley so it never free-falls. This sectional dismantling is how most tight Kelowna backyards are done, and it protects roofs, decks and fences.
Who removes trees near power lines in Kelowna?
Work inside 3 m of a line carrying 750 V to 75 kV must be done or directed by a certified utility arborist under WorkSafeBC rules. FortisBC can temporarily disconnect the service wire to your house, usually free, and we schedule the rest of the removal around that visit. Stay 10 m away from any downed line.
Is stump grinding included with tree removal?
Not by default. The quote covers felling, chipping and cleanup, and the stump is cut low and flat. If you want it ground out, say so when we quote and we add it to the job. A grinder takes the stump about 20 to 25 cm below grade, deep enough for topsoil and new sod.
Can I keep the wood for firewood?
Yes. Tell us when we quote and we will cut the trunk into rounds and stack them where you want, which also lowers the haul-away cost. Pine and fir split easily and season in about a year. Keep stacked firewood at least 10 m from the house during wildfire season, as FireSmart BC recommends.
When is the best time to prune trees in the Okanagan?
Late winter, while most deciduous trees are dormant, is the safest window for structural pruning, because cuts close faster in spring and pests are inactive. Dead, broken or hazardous limbs can come off any time of year. Fire blight in apples and pears is cut out 15 to 30 cm below the canker.
What should I do if a tree falls on my house in a storm?
Get everyone out of the affected rooms, stay clear of any wires, and call FortisBC if a line is down. Take photos from a safe distance for your insurer, then call us. We make the site safe, lift the tree off in controlled sections and leave the roof ready for a tarp or a roofer.
Do you remove beetle-killed pine trees?
Yes. Pines killed by mountain pine beetle or western pine beetle become brittle as they dry and start dropping limbs, so removing them within a season is the safer call. Pitch tubes on the bark and a crown turning red are the signs. We fell or dismantle the tree and chip the slash.