Tree service in Fredericksburg, in short
Send the form and a local tree pro calls you back. We found no tree ordinance in Fredericksburg's city code, and no city tree permit for homes (city code). In the historic district, check with the city before a tree comes down.
The historic district
Fredericksburg is the Gillespie County seat (City). In its historic district, "All exterior changes to a Historic property require an approved Certificate of Appropriateness" (City: Historic Preservation). The city's design guidelines say landscaping is "not regulated by Fredericksburg's Historic Preservation Ordinance," but ask owners to "avoid removing or damaging any significant tree" (Design Guidelines 3.2.12).
That may change: the city's 2024 comprehensive plan draft still lists "Adopt a tree preservation ordinance" as a to-do (2024 plan, Appendix A).
Oaks in Gillespie County
We found no city or county oak wilt page, so the Texas A&M Forest Service is the guide here: no cuts on oaks from February through June, and paint every cut. Its Kerrville Region covers Gillespie County (TFS contacts), and it publishes a Gillespie County oak wilt map. Our oak wilt guide.
Power lines: city or co-op
- Inside the city: the City of Fredericksburg Electric Department, 830-997-7521 (City). It cites state law that "prohibits all activities in which persons or equipment may come within six feet of energized overhead high voltage power lines." To work near a line, contact the city first: "We will help you arrange for the lines to be de-energized and/or moved" (City: Power Line Safety).
- Rural Gillespie County: CTEC, headquartered in Fredericksburg, serves the county and takes tree trimming requests (CTEC). PEC also lists Gillespie (PEC). Not sure which is yours? Check your bill.
- Easements: plats give utilities, the city included, the right to remove trees that endanger or interfere with their lines on an easement (Ch. 38).
Brush chipping, the landfill, and burning
- City brush chipping, for city trash customers, normally on trash day. Branches under 8 ft long and under 8 inches across, limbs over 1 inch cut off the main branch, piles no bigger than 4 ft high by 8 ft wide with the cut ends toward the street, and no stumps or roots. Debris from a tree company you hire isn't picked up (Sec. 32-9, Ch. 32), so get haul-off in the quote.
- Free landfill voucher: one a year, one load up to 2,000 lbs or $100, and it takes yard waste and tree stumps (City). Wood chips at the landfill are free (Recycling Center).
- No burning brush in town: "Open burning and outdoor burning of refuse is prohibited, including the burning of brush, leaves, and grass clippings" (Sec. 17-95). Outside city limits, check the Gillespie County burn ban, and tell the Fredericksburg Fire Department, 830-990-8793, before you burn.
What tree work costs
Ballpark figures only: we have no Fredericksburg average, so these are LawnStarter's averages for Boerne, the nearest city we have its figures for. $375 for a small tree, $888 for a medium one, $2,128 for a large one, and $128 to $688 to trim one, by size (October 2026). What moves the price.
Questions people ask
When not to trim live oak trees in Texas?
February through June, when the beetles that spread oak wilt are most active. We found no tree ordinance in the city code, so that Forest Service guidance is the one to follow. When to trim instead.
Why can't you cut oak trees in the summer?
Mostly, you can: the risky window for oak wilt is February through June, not the whole summer. July and August carry less oak wilt risk, but the heat is hard on a freshly cut tree, so late fall and winter are better (texasoakwilt.org).
How much does it cost to have an oak tree trimmed?
$230 to $1,480 per tree, depending on size (LawnStarter, September 2026).
Can seniors get a tree removed for free?
We haven't found a free program for seniors. The help that does exist.
Nearby
We also connect homeowners in Kerrville and Boerne with local tree pros. See the Hill Country overview.