Tree service in Boerne, in short
Send the form and a local tree pro calls you back. Inside Boerne city limits, many large trees are protected: the city requires a permit before a protected tree comes down, so check with the city's Urban Forester first (UDC Ch. 2). Oaks shouldn't be trimmed or cut from February 1 to July 1.
Boerne's tree permit
Boerne, the Kendall County seat, is on Cibolo Creek (Kendall County). Its code says: "A tree removal permit shall be applied for and approved before removal of any protected tree" (UDC Sec. 2-7). What counts:
- Protected: a trunk over 8 inches across of cottonwood, sycamore, black willow, pecan, Texas ash, or any cypress, elm, maple or oak except red oaks (UDC Sec. 8-3). Standard is 8 to 11.9 inches, legacy 12 to 23.9, heritage over 24.
- Exempt species: hackberry, sugarberry, Chinese tallow, eastern red cedar, Ashe juniper under 10 inches, chinaberry, mesquite, huisache and ligustrum.
- Dead or dying trees documented by an arborist or landscape architect don't need a permit.
- The fee is $164 from October 1, 2026 (fee ordinance). Under state law, no mitigation fee applies to a tree 10 inches or smaller at your own one- or two-family home.
City documents don't fully agree on small home lots, so check with the Urban Forester (830-331-9707) before a protected tree comes down (City: Urban Forestry).
Oak wilt rules in Boerne
- Season: oaks "should not" be trimmed or cut from February 1 to July 1.
- $500 fine: anyone pruning an oak without sealing the wounds within 30 minutes is fined $500 per occurrence. Ask your tree pro how they paint cuts.
- No new red oaks: planting Texas red oak (Spanish oak), Shumard oak and similar thin-bark red oaks is prohibited.
Source: City of Boerne: Oak Wilt Prevention and Management.
The city also pays to fight it. Its Oak Wilt Incentive Program pays $5 per inch for fungicide injection and $50 per inch to remove a sick or dead red oak over 8 inches, up to $3,000 a year per property, inside city limits, for work by a certified arborist or tree removal specialist (Oak Wilt Incentive Program). An owner told to remove an infected red oak who doesn't can be fined up to $1,000 (UDC Sec. 8-3). For help outside the city, the Texas A&M Forest Service Kerrville Region covers Kendall County (TFS contacts).
What tree work costs in Boerne
- Tree removal: $375 small, $888 medium, $2,128 large
- Tree trimming: $128 small, $460 medium, $688 large
- Stump grinding: $260
Averages from LawnStarter Boerne, October 2026. Not quotes.
Trees near power lines
The City of Boerne's electric area covers most of the city limits, but parts get power from Bandera Electric Cooperative or PEC (City: Electric).
- City electric: 830-249-9511, weekdays 8 to 5. "An electrical crew member will be sent to assess the situation" (City: Tree Trimming).
- Bandera Electric: free tree trimming, 866-226-3372. It clears a right-of-way 20 ft wide and 25 ft high (BEC).
- PEC: tree trimming requests online (PEC).
Brush pickup and burning
- Two curbside pickups: WM takes brush once a month, in the second full week, on trash day, with nothing to book. City crews pick up in the third week: one free pickup a year, then $30 plus tax. Bundles no longer than 5 ft, pieces no more than 5 in across, at the curb by 7 am. Neither is for brush from a tree company (City: Brush Collection).
- Kendall County Brush Site: 202 Charger Blvd., across from Champion High School, Wednesday to Saturday, 7 am to 4 pm. $5 for a small load, $10 for a large one; no stumps, root balls or thorny brush. Mulch is free for residents (Kendall County).
- No burning in town: "Burning trash, brush, or other rubbish is not allowed in the city limits of Boerne" (Fire Marshal FAQ). In unincorporated Kendall County, check the county burn ban and let county dispatch know before you burn (830-249-8645).
- Over the street: keep 13 ft 6 in clear; owners "shall remove any overhanging trees" (Sec. 19-3).
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Boerne?
For a protected tree over 8 inches, inside city limits, very likely. Check with the Urban Forester first. Non-protected species, trees under 8 inches and documented dead trees don't need one.
Can I trim my oak in the spring?
Not from February 1 to July 1, by the city's guidance. Any other time, paint the cuts within 30 minutes, or the city can fine the person who pruned.
How much to cut down a 30 ft tree?
National guides put a tree up to 30 ft at about $150 to $450. The full answer.
How many branches can you cut off a tree without killing it?
There's no single safe number. What to ask the pro.
Nearby
We also connect homeowners in Fredericksburg, Kerrville and New Braunfels with local tree pros. See the Hill Country overview.