Tuscaloosa Tree Removal Guide: Permits, 811, Beetles

Updated October 25, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Tree company permit	Annual permit from the Department of Agriculture and Industries for tree surgery work (cavity repair, bracing, cabling); pruning is excluded	Code of Alabama Title 2, Ch. 28; Alabama Extension
Power lines	No equipment within 10 feet of overhead lines over 750 volts (in effect since January 1, 2019)	Alabama Weather Blog
Utility easements	Alabama Power generally keeps 15 feet each side of distribution lines; storm debris is the owner's to dispose of	Alabama Power
Digging and grinding	2 full working days' notice, not counting the day of the request; marks valid 20 working days	Alabama 811; Alabama PSC
Bark beetles	Southern pine, Ips and black turpentine beetles; remove infested trees quickly	Alabama Extension FOR-2200
Lake Tuscaloosa	City Lakes Division permits tree removal on city property along its lakes	City of Tuscaloosa

Does a tree company need a license in Alabama?

Alabama does regulate part of the trade. Under Chapter 28 of Title 2 of the Code of Alabama, people doing tree surgery work must be examined by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, and a business must hold an annual permit before it offers those services. The law defines tree surgery work as receiving fees for things like cavity filling or repair, bracing and cabling, and it states that tree surgery does not include pruning, feeding, budding or grafting. Alabama Extension's commercial applicator pages describe the Tree Surgery category as a business permit that requires a certified operator who has passed the exam.

What that means for you: a company that only takes trees down or trims them may not hold a tree surgery permit, and that isn't necessarily a red flag. If someone is offering to cable, brace or repair a tree, it's fair to ask for the permit. Either way, ask for a certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers' compensation, ask whether an ISA Certified Arborist will look at the tree, and get the scope of work in writing.

What rules apply near power lines?

Alabama updated its high-voltage law effective January 1, 2019, raising the required clearance from 6 feet to 10 feet for equipment near overhead lines carrying more than 750 volts and requiring a warning sticker in view of the equipment operator. Alabama Power says no one should climb trees near its lines, that only line-clearance-qualified workers should do tree work around them, and that any downed line should be treated as energized. It generally maintains a 30-foot easement along distribution lines, 15 feet on each side, and trims only where it has a legal right and believes it's necessary. After storms, it says, disposing of wood, limbs and debris is the property owner's responsibility.

Do I need to call 811 before stump grinding?

Alabama 811 asks for two full working days of notice before any digging, not counting the day you make the request, and says every dig requires a call or click. Marks are valid for 20 working days. The Alabama Public Service Commission's 811 Day release urges homeowners to call at least two days ahead and warns that line depth can change because of erosion, earlier digging and uneven ground. Ask whether your tree company files the request before it brings in a grinder.

Why does the fall line matter for tree work?

Tuscaloosa and Northport grew up at the fall line of the Black Warrior River, where the river leaves the Cumberland Plateau and enters the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The county straddles those two regions. The northeast side of Tuscaloosa is forested hills, and the southwest is a low, flat plain. Slopes affect how crews rig a tree and where a crane can sit; flat, sandy or soggy ground affects where a loaded truck or grinder can drive after rain.

What are bark beetles doing to west Alabama pines?

Alabama Extension's 2026 publication on bark beetles describes the southern pine beetle as the most destructive pine beetle in the southeastern United States, able to kill healthy trees by attacking in large numbers. Ips engraver beetles usually target trees that are already weakened or damaged, and storms and drought are their main triggers. The black turpentine beetle seldom kills healthy trees but tends to follow injury at the base of the trunk. Signs include popcorn-like pitch tubes, reddish boring dust in the bark or at the base, and needles that go from yellow to red to brown. The recommendation is to remove infested trees quickly, since cutting, chipping or debarking them helps stop the spread.

What about trees around Lake Tuscaloosa?

Lake Tuscaloosa, completed in 1970 on the North River, is about 5,885 acres with 177 miles of shoreline and serves as the city's water supply. The City of Tuscaloosa's Lakes Division issues and inspects permits for tree removal, dredging and structures on city property along its lakes. Its permit application covers proposed work below the acquisition line and lists clearing among the activities. If your lot touches the lake, contact the Lakes Division before trees near the water come down.

Has Tuscaloosa had major tree-damaging storms?

Yes. The National Weather Service rated the April 27, 2011, Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado EF4, with estimated peak winds of 190 mph, a path of 80.68 miles and a maximum width of 2,600 yards. It killed 65 people. Its survey noted tree damage as the storm entered Tuscaloosa County and extensive tree damage along Hannah Creek Road north of Brookwood.

Questions to ask a tree service

Can I see a certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers' comp?
If you're cabling or bracing, do you hold an Alabama tree surgery permit?
Will an ISA Certified Arborist look at the tree, and could it be saved?
How will it come down, and how will you protect the house, lawn and septic system?
Are cleanup, log hauling and stump grinding included?
Will you put in an Alabama 811 request before grinding?

Common questions

Is there a state license for tree services in Alabama?

Alabama requires an annual permit from the Department of Agriculture and Industries for tree surgery work such as cavity repair, bracing and cabling. Pruning is excluded from that definition.

How close can equipment get to a power line in Alabama?

Not within 10 feet of an overhead line carrying more than 750 volts, under the law that took effect January 1, 2019.

How much notice does Alabama 811 need?

Two full working days, not counting the day you make the request. Marks stay valid for 20 working days.

Tuscaloosa tree removal guide (2026)