Who does tree work
A few kinds of businesses take tree jobs around Lancaster County. Tree service companies take down and prune big trees with climbers, bucket trucks and sometimes cranes, and they usually grind stumps and chip or haul the wood. Some companies are run by arborists and lean toward pruning, tree health and judging whether a tree is safe. Lawn and landscape outfits often trim small ornamental trees as part of yard care. Some operators do nothing but grind stumps, and land clearing crews handle acreage with heavy machines.
Match the business to the job. Taking a 90-foot loblolly off the back of a house is a different job from lifting the limbs of a young willow oak over the driveway.
What the job involves
A removal starts with a look at the tree, whatever sits beneath it and the open ground nearby; from there the crew chooses between felling it, dismantling it in sections, or a crane lift. The wood is chipped, cut to firewood length or hauled away, and the stump is ground or left. On a trim, good cuts go just outside the branch collar, heavy limbs come off in three cuts, and the tree isn't topped, all points from Clemson Extension's pruning fact sheets. See tree removal and tree trimming.
Local rules worth raising
| Topic | What to settle | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Tree rules | Whether the tree is in a tree save area, a road right-of-way or a town | County Planning, (803) 285-6005 |
| Burning brush in the city | Permit, October 1 to April 30 only | Lancaster Fire Department, (803) 283-4385 |
| Burning outside town | Forestry Commission notice first; no burning during a ban | 1-800-705-8610 |
| Stump grinding | SC811 locate request at least three business days ahead | 811 |
| Service line to the house | Whether the line needs to be disconnected first | Duke Energy or your electric cooperative (Lynches River or York Electric) |
Questions to ask the contractor
- Under what business name, street address and phone number will the agreement be written?
- How will the tree come down, and where will each piece land?
- How will you protect the roof, carport, fence, well house, septic area and lawn?
- Will you burn, chip or haul the brush? If you burn, who notifies the Forestry Commission or gets the city permit?
- Will the crew file the SC811 ticket before grinding, and how deep will the stump be ground?
- For trimming: exactly which limbs come off, and will any tree be topped?
- Will climbing spikes be used on a tree that's staying?
- Does the service line to the house need to be disconnected first, and who will call the power company?
- Can you give me local references from recent jobs?
- How much is due before work starts, and what triggers the rest?
What the written agreement should say
The Attorney General's office advises that every agreement be in writing and spell out the scope of work, the cleanup and the final cost. South Carolina's Department of Consumer Affairs adds: make sure all the details are in writing, that you understand the terms, and that you get a completed copy. For tree work, that means the agreement should name the contractor with an address and phone number, list each tree by location and kind, and describe the method, any pruning cuts, stump grinding and depth, and what happens to the logs, brush and chips. It should also list when work starts, what the whole job costs, any money due up front, and what must be finished before the remainder is due. On storm jobs, ask that it describe what's lying on what and how the crew will get it off.
Cautions from the state
On January 23, 2026, ahead of a winter storm, South Carolina's Attorney General put out tips for dealing with downed trees and limbs, together with the Departments of Insurance and Consumer Affairs. The ones that matter most when hiring:
- Don't pay in full up front. Never pay in full before the work is finished and you're satisfied, and make the final payment only once the job is done.
- Be wary of door-to-door offers, especially from crews that demand a cash deposit, and of crews that travel in from out of state after storms. The Attorney General's office urges homeowners to favor established local companies.
- Watch for pressure. A "now or never" decision and a promise to pay your insurance deductible are both red flags in the release.
- Keep your insurance benefits. Don't sign documents that assign your insurance benefits to the contractor.
- Ask for local references and look at recent reviews of the company's work.
- No topping, and no spikes on keepers. The release warns against topping and against climbing spikes on trees that aren't coming down.
After a declared state of emergency, South Carolina's price gouging law, section 39-5-145, bars unconscionable prices; report a suspected case to the Attorney General at (803) 737-3953 or scag.gov/price-gouging.
Where hiring goes wrong
- A vague plan for the drop zone. "We'll be careful" isn't a plan. Ask where each piece lands.
- Nothing in writing. Without it, the cleanup and the stump are open to argument.
- Cash, in full, before the work. State officials warn against it, especially after storms.
- A trim that's really a topping. Clemson says severely pruned trees often have to come out within ten years.
- Brush burned at the wrong time. In the city, only October through April with a permit; outside town, only after notice and never during a ban.
When this guide isn't the right fit
If you're clearing wooded land for a new house or pasture, that's land clearing, a different job with heavier equipment. If your question is about a neighbor's tree, start with the neighbor, and with your insurer if it has already fallen. For legal advice on a dispute, talk to a lawyer; this site doesn't give it.
Hiring questions
Should I hire a landscaper or a tree service?
A landscape company may handle small ornamental trees you can reach from the ground. For big trees, anything over the house, or anything near wires, ask a tree service. The questions above are the same either way.
What's a reasonable deposit?
Settle the amount in writing before work begins. The state's advice is never to hand over the full amount until the job is done.
Someone knocked on my door after the storm offering to cut my tree. Is that a problem?
Not always, but the Attorney General's office calls unsolicited door-to-door offers a red flag, especially with a demand for a cash deposit. Take your time and get everything in writing.
If I send a request here, who shows up?
An independent contractor who works in Lancaster County, and only that one. This site hands the request over; it doesn't cut trees.
This site sends your request to one independent contractor in Lancaster County. It doesn't take on tree jobs.
- South Carolina Attorney General, tips for dealing with downed trees and limbs, January 23, 2026 (with the SC Departments of Insurance and Consumer Affairs); price gouging release, March 2, 2025.
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, Principles & Practices for Pruning Trees (HGIC 1003); Topping Trees (HGIC 1024).
- Lancaster County Unified Development Ordinance, Chapter 7. City of Lancaster Fire Department FAQ. SC Forestry Commission, How to Notify. SC811, Homeowners. Duke Energy, Trees and Safety. Lancaster County, Utilities.