San Diego tree service prices: a sourced local guide (2026)
Free and updated Oct 17, 2026. Every number below links to where it came from, so you can check it yourself before you ask for quotes.
Typical price
Trim $300–$700 (medium tree); removal $500–$1,500; stump grinding $100–$400
Based on these published local price pages:
- Yelp: typical SD tree removal quote $382 (range $202–$500), 107 real quotes — source
- Tree Service Finders (51 SD providers): trim med $300–700, removal med $500–1,000, large $1,000–2,000+ — source
- San Diego Arborist calculator: trim $260–1,500, removal $500–1,500, complex $2,000+ — source
- PermitDeck (RSMeans-based): removal med avg $1,170, large avg $2,340 — source
What City of San Diego permits say (not a price)
Permit “valuation” is the number an applicant writes on a City permit. It often covers a whole project (a house remodel that includes a fence, say), so it is not a price for your job. We show it only as context.
- 349 City of San Diego permits in 2026 touched this trade. Median permit valuation $65,649 (middle half $42,120–$531,732) — not a price.
- Median days from permit application to issue: 244.
- 238 active CSLB licensees (D49) in San Diego County; median 12.350000000000001 years licensed; 97% carry workers’ comp (the rest report no employees).
Sources: City of San Diego permits issued 2026 (data.sandiego.gov); CSLB license master file, Oct 16, 2026.
How to use these numbers
- Get 2–3 written, itemized quotes for the same scope. If one is far below the ranges above, ask what is left out.
- Ask each provider to explain anything above the range: access, size, materials and timing are usually why.
- See what a fair quote includes and questions to ask.
Compare every San Diego trade in one place: San Diego price & provider data hub (free, no signup).