Big trees in Chicago yards often lean over a two-flat, a garage and the alley wires at once. A crane lets the tree crew lift each section away instead of dropping it, and parkway trees need a Forestry permit.
A crane helps with tree removal when a tree is too big, too weak or too close to a house to take down by rope. The tree crew cuts the tree in sections, and the crane holds each section, lifts it clear and lowers it to the ground or the street. Nothing has to drop. That matters in a Chicago back yard, where a large tree can lean over a two-flat, a garage and the neighbor's roof at once.
Dead ash trees are a common case in the Chicago area. The emerald ash borer was first found in Illinois in Kane County in 2006, and its larvae feed under the bark and cut off the tree's water and nutrients. A dead tree is hard to judge, and climbing it can be risky. With a crane, the crew can take pieces off from above without leaning on weak limbs.
In Chicago, trees on the parkway need a Bureau of Forestry permit for any work, and removals need ten working days' notice. Trees on private land are a different question, but the crane may still need street permits to set up. We work with your tree service on the plan, the crane size and the set-up spot, and on where the cut sections will land for chipping.
Crane-assisted tree removal in Chicago: common questions
When is a crane needed to take down a tree?
When a tree is over a house, a garage or wires, when it is dead and not safe to climb, or when there is no room to drop sections. The tree crew and the crane plan it together.
Do I need a permit to remove a parkway tree in Chicago?
Yes. The Bureau of Forestry issues permits for any work involving trees on the parkway, and removals need ten working days' notice.
Who grinds the stump and hauls the wood?
Usually the tree service. Ask whether stump grinding, chipping and hauling are in their price, since the crane quote covers the lift.
How it works
- Free site look: Call, text or send photos. We look at the load, the access and where the crane can set up.
- Lift plan & written quote: Crane size, crew, time on site and price in writing.
- Permits & set-up: We check which street, sidewalk or airspace permits the lift needs before the day.
- Lift day: The crew sets up, rigs the load, makes the lift and packs up.