Monroe, LA Tree Removal Guide: Licenses, Storms (2026)

Updated October 24, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Arborist license	Required to work on trees for a fee, including removal, pruning and trimming	LDAF Horticulture Commission
Out-of-state crews	Out-of-state licenses don't count; they may only clear debris that has already fallen	LSU AgCenter
Contract and insurance	Licensed arborists need a written contract with the work and price, plus liability and (if applicable) workers' comp insurance	LDAF
License renewal	Licenses expire each January 31 and require annual continuing education	LDAF; La. R.S. 3:3808
Power lines	No unauthorized work within 10 feet of high-voltage lines; notify the line owner at least 48 hours ahead	La. R.S. 45:141-146
Digging and grinding	Notify Louisiana 811 at least 48 hours before excavating, excluding weekends and holidays	La. R.S. 40:1749.13
Ips beetles in pines	Chemical treatment is ineffective once a pine is infested; remove infested trees	LSU AgCenter
Rainfall	About 55 inches a year (1991-2020 normals)	Monroe climate data

Does a tree company need a license in Louisiana?

Yes. LDAF's Horticulture Commission says arborist licenses are required to work on trees for a fee, and the license covers making recommendations and doing tree-surgery work such as removal, pruning, trimming, cabling, fertilization and cavity work. To get licensed, an applicant passes an exam based on the ISA arborist certification study guide with a score of at least 70 percent. Licenses expire every January 31 and are renewed with continuing education.

A separate utility arborist license covers removing trees or parts of trees along utility rights-of-way. LDAF's page doesn't specifically mention stump grinding, so if you're hiring for grinding only, ask the company what license it holds.

How do I check a license?

LDAF publishes lists of licensed arborists and licensed utility arborists on its arborist page, and you can contact the Horticulture Commission in Baton Rouge with questions. The LSU AgCenter notes that licensees must display their license number on business vehicles that carry advertising, and that it's the property owner's job to confirm a license and insurance are current before hiring. Ask for a current certificate of insurance, not just a verbal yes.

What should be in the contract?

Louisiana requires licensed arborists to use a written contract that spells out the work and the payment. Make sure it also says which trees are involved, whether brush and wood are hauled, whether the stump is ground and how deep, and how the crew will protect your lawn and driveway.

Why do pines die around Monroe?

The LSU AgCenter says pines stressed by drought, lightning, root rot or wind are most vulnerable to Ips bark beetles. Look for browning in the crown, sawdust in bark crevices or at the base, and many small round holes in the trunk. Once a pine is infested, the AgCenter says chemical treatment won't save it and recommends removing it. It also advises not stacking freshly cut pine logs near healthy pines. After the 2023 drought, an LSU AgCenter agent warned that dead and dying trees across Louisiana were going to fall, and in 2024 state lawmakers formed a House subcommittee to look at thousands of dead standing pines.

Are water oaks a problem?

They can be. An LSU AgCenter article calls the water oak weaker-wooded than most oaks and prone to damage from wind and ice, and says damaged wood decays readily. It cites Clemson Extension writers who say water oak trunks often rot by about age 50. The author treats large water oaks with broken branches and cavities near homes, buildings or parking areas as hazard trees that should be removed, and suggests live, Nuttall, cherrybark or Shumard oak, or willow oak, as longer-lived replacements.

What rules apply near power lines?

Louisiana's Overhead Power Line Safety Act bars unauthorized people from working or moving equipment within 10 feet of a high-voltage overhead line. The person responsible for the work must notify the line's owner at least 48 hours before starting, and work can go ahead only after the owner and the contractor make arrangements. Trees tangled in lines after a storm are for the utility to deal with first.

Do I need to call 811 before stump grinding?

Under Louisiana's dig law, an excavator has to notify Louisiana 811 at least 48 hours before excavating, not counting weekends and holidays. Stump grinding goes below grade, so a careful company will make the request before it starts.

What storms have hit Monroe?

On April 12, 2020, an EF3 tornado with peak winds around 140 mph tracked about eight miles through Brownsville-Bawcomville, Monroe and Monroe Regional Airport, snapping hundreds of trees. In March 2016, 15 to 20 inches of rain fell over three days and about 9,500 homes in Ouachita Parish had flood damage. Ice and sleet storms are also possible in winter.

What should I do after a storm?

Stay clear of downed lines and report them to the utility. Take photos before anything is moved and call your insurance company. The LSU AgCenter warns against hiring door-to-door crews for routine tree work after storms and says owners worried about a leaning, split or hazardous tree should hire someone with a Louisiana license.

Questions to ask a tree service

What's your Louisiana arborist license number, and can I see a current certificate of insurance?
Can this tree be pruned and kept, or does it need to come down?
How will the tree come down, and how will you protect the house, lawn and driveway?
Is cleanup, wood hauling and stump grinding in the written contract?
Will you request a Louisiana 811 locate before grinding?

Common questions

Who licenses tree services in Louisiana?

The Horticulture Commission at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry issues arborist and utility arborist licenses.

Does an out-of-state tree license work in Louisiana?

No. The LSU AgCenter says an out-of-state license doesn't count. Out-of-state crews can only clear debris that has already fallen.

How much notice does Louisiana 811 need?

At least 48 hours before excavating, not counting weekends and holidays, under La. R.S. 40:1749.13.

Monroe, Louisiana tree removal guide (2026)