Most trimming in Sioux Falls is one of four jobs. Deadwood removal takes out dead and dying limbs before they fall on the roof, the car or someone walking under them. Clearance pruning lifts the canopy off the house, the garage and the service drop, and meets the City's clearance rules over sidewalks and streets. Structural pruning on young trees sets up one strong leader and well-spaced branches, so the tree doesn't split in its first big storm. Crown cleaning and thinning on mature shade trees reduces weight and wind resistance without changing the tree's shape.
The City sets the clearance standard in Code § 94.041: 10 feet over sidewalks, 12 feet over streets and 16 feet over arterial and collector streets such as 41st Street and Western Avenue. Trees also can't block streetlights or traffic signs. Through Project TRIM, the Forestry team surveys one district of the city each year and mails letters to owners whose trees need it. If the work isn't done after a second deadline, City crews do it and bill $150 an hour with a one-hour minimum. The City's guide also suggests a simple rule for young street trees: the branch-free trunk should be about one-third of the tree's height. See boulevard trees for more.
Timing depends on the species. Ash can't be pruned from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources advises not pruning oaks in April, May or June, to avoid spreading oak wilt. For elms, pruning wounds and cut wood attract the beetles that carry Dutch elm disease, so we prune elms in the dormant season and chip the wood. We never top a tree. The City bans topping on street and public trees, and it ruins a tree on private property just as surely. On City trees, the code also bans climbing spurs for pruning, and we don't use them on any tree we're keeping.
What's included
Deadwood removal
Dead and dying limbs out of the canopy before they come down on their own.
Clearance to code
10 feet over sidewalks, 12 over streets and 16 over arterials and collectors, plus the roof and service drop.
Structural pruning
Young trees trained to one leader and good branch spacing.
Season-aware
No ash from Memorial Day to Labor Day, no oak in April–June, elm in the dormant season.
No topping, no spurs
Proper cuts at the branch collar, no climbing spurs on trees we're keeping.
Project TRIM letters
Clearance work done and documented before the City's deadline.
Tree trimming cost in Sioux Falls, SD
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree, under 25 ft | $150 – $400 | Structural or clearance pruning |
| Mature shade tree | $400 – $1,200 | Deadwood, clearance, crown cleaning |
| Large cottonwood or silver maple | $900 – $2,000 | Bucket or climb, rigging |
| Boulevard clearance for a TRIM letter | $150 – $450 per tree | To the City's 10-, 12- or 16-foot rule |
| Service-drop clearance | $200 – $600 | Coordinated with Xcel when needed |
| Multiple trees, same visit | Discounted | Priced together |
These are 2026 Sioux Falls ranges to help you budget. Your written price is itemized (climb or bucket work, rigging, chipping and haul-off, stump grinding, crane time) and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about tree trimming
How often should trees be trimmed?
Young trees every two to three years while you shape them. Mature shade trees every three to five years, or after any storm that leaves broken limbs.
When is the best time to prune?
Late fall through early spring works for most trees in Sioux Falls. Ash can't be pruned from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Oaks shouldn't be pruned in April, May or June. Elms are best pruned when dormant.
Can you top my tree to make it shorter?
We won't. Topping leaves stubs that rot and sprout weak shoots, and the City bans it on public trees. If a tree is too big for its spot, crown reduction to proper laterals or removal is the honest answer.
The City says my tree is too low over the sidewalk. What's the rule?
Ten feet of clearance over sidewalks, 12 feet over residential streets and 16 feet over arterials and collectors, under Code § 94.041. We trim to it and you can show the City the work.
Do I have to trim my neighbor's tree?
No law requires your neighbor to trim branches hanging over your yard. The City says you may trim back to your property line and must dispose of what you cut.
Can you trim near power lines?
We clear branches from your service drop, with Xcel disconnecting it if needed. Trees near main lines are trimmed by the utility's line-clearance crews, usually on a three-to-five-year cycle.