Massillon may pay half to remove a tree lawn tree

Tree Removal in Massillon, OH

Written, stump-inclusive estimates for the city's tree removal program, plus removals anywhere else on your property.

We come out and look before we price, anywhere in Canton and Stark County
Each item on the estimate priced on its own
We confirm where the wood goes before work begins

Massillon's Tree Removal Program, Explained

Tree Removal in Massillon has an unusual wrinkle: the city runs a program that can split the cost of removing a problem tree in the tree lawn or right-of-way. Under Chapter 558 of the Massillon Codified Ordinances, a property owner can apply for help removing a tree that is overgrown, dead, diseased or obstructive. The city's guidelines say it pays 50% of the approved project cost, up to $3,000 per tree and stump, subject to available funds. If you have a big maple heaving the sidewalk in front of the house, this is worth checking before you pay the full price yourself.

What the application asks for

The guidelines spell out what Massillon wants to see. Overgrown trees must be at least 36 inches in circumference. The stump has to be removed as part of the project. The application includes a description with photos or video, a sketch of the work area, and at least two price estimates from tree contractors that include stump removal. Owners who are more than 30 days behind on city taxes, sewer bills or other city debts are turned away, and approved work generally has to be finished within 90 days.

Where we fit in

We can provide one of the written estimates you submit, itemized so the tree, the stump grinding and the cleanup are each shown. If the city approves the project, the guidelines say the contractor bills the city directly for its share after a final inspection, and you pay the rest. We will schedule the work so it finishes well inside the 90-day window. If funds have run out for the year, or the tree is in the back yard rather than the tree lawn, we still price it the same way.

A river town with old trees

Massillon was platted in 1826 on the east bank of the Tuscarawas River, along the surveyed route of the Ohio and Erie Canal. The Towpath Trail and the Sippo Valley Trail both pass through the city, and the parks department oversees 35 parks and open spaces. Trees along river and creek bottoms grow fast and big on wet ground, and cottonwood, silver maple and willow are all prone to dropping heavy limbs. On older streets, those same trees end up in tree lawns that were never meant for them.

Storm exposure

On April 8, 2020, a National Weather Service survey found an EF-0 tornado that began about two miles west of Massillon and ran more than 14 miles to south of East Sparta, uprooting trees along its path and dropping some onto homes. The Canton Repository has listed Massillon among the areas served by Ohio Edison during wind outages. If a tree is tangled in lines, call Ohio Edison before anyone touches it. Get a free estimate

Massillon Facts That Affect Tree Work

City cost-share. Massillon's Tree Removal Program under Chapter 558 pays 50% of an approved project, capped at $3,000 per tree and stump removal, for overgrown, dead, diseased or obstructive trees in the right-of-way or tree lawn, subject to available funds.
What to submit. Applications need photos or video, a sketch of the project area, and at least two contractor estimates that include stump removal; overgrown trees must measure at least 36 inches around, and work is due within 90 days of approval.
Tornado path in 2020. The NWS rated an April 8, 2020 tornado EF-0 with estimated 84 mph winds; it began two miles west of Massillon, ran 14.49 miles, and uprooted trees, some onto homes.
Owners who stay. Census QuickFacts reports Massillon's owner-occupied rate at 65.2%, with 89.7% of residents in the same house as the year before, which is why so many tree lawn trees have been there for generations.

Our Services in Massillon, OH

Massillon Questions

Will you give me an estimate I can use for the Massillon program?

Yes. We will write it with the tree, stump removal and cleanup listed separately, which is what the city asks for. You will still need a second estimate from another company, since the guidelines call for at least two.

Does the program cover a tree in my back yard?

Based on the city's guidelines, no. The program is for trees in the right-of-way or tree lawn. Back-yard trees are priced and paid for privately.

Can work start before the city approves my application?

We recommend waiting. The guidelines require pre-construction photos and plan approval, and work done before approval may not qualify. If the tree is an immediate danger, call us and the city and we will sort out the safest order.

What if the tree lawn tree is lifting the sidewalk?

Root damage to sidewalks is common with large maples in narrow tree lawns. Removal plus stump grinding is the usual fix; the sidewalk repair itself is a separate matter for the owner and the city.

Free Estimates in Massillon, OH

Free estimates in Massillon, including program-ready written quotes.

Call (330) 433-8160 Free Estimate