Much of the tree removal work in Chemung County happens in places where there is very little room to drop anything. Elmira, Elmira Heights and Southport grew up with street maples and backyard oaks that now tower over roofs, fences and neighbors’ garages. Taking one down safely means bringing it apart piece by piece rather than felling it whole.
Tubbs Tree Service is based in Spencer, just over the line in Tioga County, and has extended its service into Chemung for this kind of work. The crew uses a crane, a bucket truck, or climbers with ropes and rigging depending on the tree and the access, and a knuckle boom truck with a log grapple to clear the wood. The motto is simple: no tree too big and no space too small.
What Sets the Price of a Removal Here
No two removals cost the same, and a quote without a site visit is a guess. These are the things Jason looks at when he prices a Chemung County job:
- Height, trunk size and lean, and whether the tree is sound or decayed inside.
- What sits under the canopy: a house, a garage, a fence, a garden or a NYSEG service drop.
- Whether a crane or bucket truck can reach the tree, or whether climbers must rig every piece down.
- How far the wood has to travel to the street on a narrow city lot or a long rural drive.
- Add-ons such as stump grinding, cleanup level and what you want done with the wood.
Working Between Houses in Elmira and Elmira Heights
On the older blocks, a large tree can stand a few feet from two homes at once. In those spots the crew takes the crown down in controlled sections, lowering limbs on ropes or lifting them out by crane so nothing swings into siding or glass. A careful setup takes longer than a quick drop in an open field, and the plan will reflect that honestly.
Out in Big Flats or Van Etten, where yards are wider, a tree may be felled in fewer pieces. Jason will explain which approach your site allows and why.
Trees Along the Road in the Town of Elmira
The Town of Elmira requires a permit for tree work in the public right-of-way or other public places. If the tree you want gone stands near the road, it may not be yours to remove, or it may need approval first. Your town or village office can confirm where the right-of-way begins and what paperwork applies.
Where the Wood Goes After Removal
Your plan can send the wood to local use as firewood, mulch, and sometimes building material instead of hauling it all away. Some owners keep rounds for their own stove. Others want the yard left clean. Either way, the choice is yours, and it is written into the plan before work starts.
Tree Removal Questions From Chemung County
Do I need permission to take down a tree near the road in the Town of Elmira?
If the tree is in the public right-of-way or another public place, the Town of Elmira code requires a permit for tree work. A tree fully on your own land is a different matter. Ask your town office where the right-of-way line falls before you schedule anything, and Jason can point out trees that look close to it during the consultation.
Is stump grinding included when you remove a tree?
Stump grinding is not automatic, but it can be added to any removal. Jason lists it as a separate line in your plan so you can decide. Some Southport and Horseheads owners grind right away to reclaim lawn, while others leave the stump for now and book grinding on its own later.
Can you take down a large maple squeezed between two houses in Elmira Heights?
Yes. Tight spaces are exactly where Tubbs is comfortable. The tree is taken apart in controlled sections, with pieces lowered by rope or lifted by crane depending on access. Jason will look at the clearances, the neighbors’ structures and any overhead wires before writing the plan, so you know the method before the crew arrives.
Want the full picture? Read our tree removal guide, or see everything we do in Chemung County.