Roanoke Tree Removal is a local referral service: we pass your request to an independent, local tree crew. We are not a government office, and this page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
Who handles which wire
If Appalachian Power (APCo) is your utility, its tree-problem page draws the line clearly: it only trims or removes trees growing too close to lines that run from pole to pole. It does not trim trees threatening your service drop, the line from its pole to your house; that is the property owner's responsibility. APCo says it maintains more than 26,000 miles of overhead distribution lines in Virginia and plans its trimming each year from vegetation conditions and outage history, and that owners stay responsible for trees and limbs outside that scope. If you are on an electric cooperative, ask the co-op for its rules; the state law below applies either way.
| Situation | Who handles it | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Tree growing into lines between poles | APCo | Report it on APCo's tree form; its forestry team inspects and talks to you or leaves a door hanger. APCo tree problem, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Tree or limbs on the service drop (pole to house) | Property owner | Call 800-956-4237 at least two business days ahead so APCo can disconnect the line. APCo tree problem, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Branches on a line, downed or sparking wire | Emergency | Stay away and call 800-956-4237 right away. APCo outages FAQ, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Tree that does not involve any line | Property owner | APCo says to call a local tree contractor. APCo outages FAQ, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
Virginia's 10-foot rule
Virginia's Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act, Code of Virginia § 59.1-408, bars anyone from doing work that puts a person, tool, ladder, equipment or material within 10 feet of an overhead high-voltage line, unless the safety arrangements in § 59.1-410 have been made. "High voltage" means more than 600 volts, under § 59.1-407.
The definitions also say the Act covers work done "in pursuit of his trade or business," so it is aimed at the tree service you hire. That is one reason a careful crew will not cut near a line until the utility has acted. APCo gives homeowners the same distance: do not remove limbs or debris yourself within 10 feet of a power line, never use a metal ladder near lines, and keep a wood or fiberglass ladder at least 10 feet away.
How the utility makes a line safe
Under § 59.1-410, the person responsible for the work notifies the line's owner on a working day, and the work waits until both sides agree on safety arrangements. The utility must start them within five working days of the request. The statute lists the options: temporary barriers, temporary de-energizing and grounding, raising or moving the line, or other measures the utility judges appropriate.
§ 59.1-411 sets out what the notice must include: who is giving it, the exact property, the name and work-day phone of the person responsible, the type and extent of the work, and the start and finish dates. If the notice is by phone, both sides keep a record, and a delayed start needs a new notice.
Who pays for the safety arrangements
§ 59.1-410 says the utility's actual costs for the safety measures are paid by the person responsible for the work, with exceptions. For property used for residential purposes, the charge is limited to costs above $1,000. The utility must also give an estimate of the scope and cost when asked, so request one before the job is scheduled.
Liability is the other half. Under § 59.1-414, a contractor who breaks the 10-foot rule and causes damage or injury must indemnify the utility against the resulting claims. Ask any crew how they handle work near lines, and check our guide to Virginia tree service licensing before you hire.
Trees on the line to your house
The service drop is the most common homeowner case. APCo's safety page says you are responsible for trimming trees that grow close to that wire, and asks for at least two business days' notice so it can disconnect the line for the work. In practice, book the tree crew first, then set the disconnect for the same day and confirm it with both. For who is responsible for other trees, see tree trimming responsibility in Virginia and a tree too close to the house.
After a storm
APCo's outage FAQ says its contractors remove fallen trees and limbs that are preventing service restoration, but only move storm debris that is hindering restoration. Expect to clear the rest yourself or hire a crew once the power is back. A tree resting on a line is the utility's problem first, not a job for a chainsaw.
For the cleanup, see emergency storm tree removal, fallen tree insurance claims in Virginia and the Roanoke brush pickup guide.
Who should do the work
APCo says work on trees near power lines should only be attempted by trained professionals, because serious injury or death can occur. Line clearance is its own specialty: the International Society of Arboriculture offers a Utility Specialist credential for certified arborists who work in utility vegetation management. For a service drop, the usual route is the APCo disconnect described above. Large trees over lines may need rigging or a crane; see crane tree removal and arborist risk assessment.
What removal near lines costs
| Item | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tree removal, national average | About $750 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Typical range | $200 – $2,000+ | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Tight, hard-to-reach or unsafe spot, including near power lines | About 25% – 50% more | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Large tree near power lines | Upward of $10,000 | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Crane service | About $500, or $250 – $600 per day | Angi, tree removal cost, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Utility safety arrangements, residential property (Virginia) | Owner can be billed only for costs above $1,000 | Va. Code § 59.1-410, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
Angi's figures are national, not Roanoke quotes. The last row is a statutory limit, not a price. See tree removal cost by size and tree removal cost in Roanoke.
Planting so it does not happen again
APCo's Right Tree, Right Place page asks one question first: will the tree come within 10 feet of power lines when fully grown? Its spacing guide: small trees (15 feet or less) 10 to 25 feet from lines, medium trees (30 feet or less) 20 to 50 feet, and large trees (35 feet or more), such as oaks, maples, pines and yellow poplar, 50 feet or more. It lists flowering dogwood, redbud and serviceberry among the small choices.
Near a pad-mounted transformer, APCo asks for 10 feet of clearance on any side with an opening and 3 feet on the others. Call 811 before you dig; APCo lists 800-552-7001 for Virginia if 811 does not work in your area.
Get a quote
For a tree near a power line in the Roanoke Valley, call (540) 904-1819 or use the form, and we will pass it to an independent local crew. Tell us which wire it is near (between poles or the line to your house), roughly how tall the tree is, and whether any limbs touch the line. If a limb is on a line now, call APCo first.
Sources
- Appalachian Power, Report Tree Problem (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Appalachian Power, Staying Safe at Home (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Appalachian Power, Outages FAQ (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Appalachian Power, Reliability & Tree Trimming (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Appalachian Power, Right Tree, Right Place (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 59.1-407, Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act: definitions (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 59.1-408, prohibited activities (the 10-foot rule) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 59.1-410, temporary safety arrangements (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 59.1-411, notification (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 59.1-414, application and liability (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- International Society of Arboriculture, ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist credential (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Angi, tree removal cost (national figures, updated Jul 8, 2026) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
Common questions
Who is responsible for trimming trees near power lines in Virginia?
For Appalachian Power customers, APCo trims trees near its lines that run from pole to pole. Trees near the service drop, the line from the pole to your house, are the property owner's responsibility.
Will Appalachian Power cut down a tree near my power line for free?
APCo trims or removes trees growing too close to its pole-to-pole lines. Report the tree on its tree problem form. It does not trim trees threatening the service drop to your house.
How close can you cut a tree to a power line in Virginia?
Virginia Code section 59.1-408 bars work that puts a person, tool or equipment within 10 feet of an overhead high-voltage line unless the utility has made safety arrangements first.
How do I get my power line disconnected to trim a tree?
APCo asks you to call 800-956-4237 at least two business days before the work so a crew can temporarily disconnect the service line.
How much does it cost to remove a tree near power lines?
Angi's national figures say a hard-to-reach or unsafe spot, including near power lines, adds about 25% to 50%, and large trees near lines can cost upward of $10,000. These are national figures.
Who pays when the utility has to de-energize a line for tree work?
Under Virginia Code section 59.1-410, the person responsible for the work pays the utility's actual costs, but for residential property only costs above $1,000.