Tree Services in Missoula, MT

Do I need a permit for a boulevard tree in Missoula?

Yes. The City of Missoula's Urban Forestry page says the Forestry Division oversees all activities within the right of way, and that all work requires a permit from the Urban Forestry Division. Under Missoula Municipal Code Chapter 12.32.070, as the page describes it, homeowners are responsible for maintaining the land and caring for the trees there, and they may hire an ISA-certified arborist to perform tree work.

Reach the Division before scheduling anything, at citytrees@ci.missoula.mt.us or through the Urban Forestry Tree Inspector at (406) 552-6355. Planting has its own step: the City says a Tree Planting Permit has to be submitted at least five working days ahead, and asks that you not buy or plant anything for the right of way without an approved permit. Our guide to Missoula tree permits and the right of way explains who owns what and how the steps fit together.

Can HJ do boulevard tree work in Missoula?

Ask Urban Forestry first, and here is why. The City publishes a Local Certified Arborists List of businesses it describes as licensed by the City of Missoula, carrying commercial liability insurance at or above a stated minimum, and having an ISA-certified arborist on staff. The City says the list came from a mailing to local tree businesses, that participants provided the information voluntarily, and that it does not refer one company over another.

So for a tree in the right of way, confirm with Urban Forestry who can do the work before you book anyone, and use the City's list as a reference. Trees on private property are the work we take on across the Missoula area.

What is off limits when pruning a Missoula tree?

Topping is the big one. The City's 2015 Urban Forest Master Management Plan says Chapter 12.32 set standards of care for the urban forest and prohibited poor practices such as topping, tipping and shaping, and that the ordinance allowed for fines. The plan also describes what topping does: it results in a high risk tree with splayed growth, and topping ranked among the top five cultural defects in its inventory. Confirm current requirements with the City, since this is general information and not legal advice.

Whatever the rules say about a particular tree, the arboricultural answer is the same. We do not top trees, and our guide to why topping fails and what to do instead explains the alternatives.

Who do I call about a dangerous tree in Missoula?

It depends on where the tree is and what is wrong. For a hazardous tree or hanging limb on a boulevard, the City says to call (406) 552-6253. To find out when your block is scheduled for City pruning, or to ask for an inspection of the boulevard trees next to your property, call (406) 552-6355 or email citytrees@ci.missoula.mt.us. The City also has a tree debris removal request form for street tree storm damage.

For a tree on your own property, call us. Our hazard tree removal and 24-hour storm response cover that work, and our earlier page on emergency tree removal in Missoula explains what happens on an urgent call. If anything is touching a power line, stay away from it and call 911 before you call anyone else.

Does it matter if my address says Missoula but I am outside city limits?

It can. A Missoula mailing address does not always put you inside the city. Missoula County's plowing routes, for example, include areas such as Target Range and Orchard Homes, Miller Creek, and Grant Creek and Upper Rattlesnake, and the county separates its work from what the City does inside city limits. If you are not sure which side of the line you are on, ask before assuming City forestry rules do or do not apply.

Burning is a good example of how much the details matter. Missoula County's health department says all burns require a permit, and it lists the General Outdoor season as March 1 to August 31, with that season closed when we checked on 2 November 2026. Our guide to burning tree debris has the rest. Garden City Compost, listed on the City's website, says it is open year round for yard waste drop-off, and its drop-off list includes brush.

Are Missoula's old street maples a problem for my yard trees?

They are worth understanding if you live among them. The City's plan says the majority of right-of-way trees in the Northside, Westside, University and Rose Park neighborhoods are Norway maples, and that 73.4 percent of downtown trees were honeylocusts when it was written. A street planted heavily with one species is more exposed if a pest or disease targets it, which is why the City pushes for diversity.

Our guide to Missoula's aging Norway maples covers their condition and what the City plans for them. If you are planting in your own yard, it makes sense to choose something different. See the best trees to plant in western Montana for ideas, and the Montana tree pruning calendar for timing once it is established.

Who handles trees near power lines in Missoula?

Check the name on your bill, then the line. NorthWestern Energy says it is responsible for pruning and removing trees that affect the overhead lines running pole to pole, and that it trims on a regular cycle, every five years in most areas. Property owners are responsible for trees that affect the service line from the pole to the home or business. It offers a free disconnect and reconnect so a hired tree service can work safely, if you call 888-467-2669 at least three business days before the work.

Missoula Electric Cooperative members should call the co-op, as our guide to who trims trees near power lines explains. Our tree work near power lines page covers how we approach service line jobs. Justin Johnson holds a line-clearance qualification, and this is not work to attempt yourself.

What tree services does HJ provide on private property in Missoula?

Our tree services cover removal, pruning and storm work on private land, along with stump grinding, dormant pruning, commercial tree services and a tree health and risk assessment if you are unsure whether a tree should stay. Our tree removal cost guide explains what affects a quote.

If you are comparing companies, our list of the best tree services in Missoula and our guide to insurance and licensing questions for tree services are good places to start. More species guides are in the Montana Tree Guide, and the Missoula service area page lists our other work here. Call (406) 215-7319 or request a free estimate.

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