Tree Service in Brea, CA
Got native oaks, willows or sycamores on a larger lot? Since 2023 Brea protects them, so our tree service in Brea trims and removes trees with the city's rules and the hills in mind.
Tree care in Brea
Tar pits, oil wells and a canyon on the edge
Brea protects its native trees on big lots, and asks homes in the hills to keep trees back from roofs. The name means tar in Spanish. Union Oil bought 1,200 acres here in 1894, and the city formed in 1917. Carbon Canyon holds about 1,758 acres where homes meet wild land. In April 2026, the Carbon Fire burned 205 acres at Carbon Canyon and Olinda roads. Since July 2023, a city policy protects eight native tree kinds on lots of 20,000 square feet or more. The city trims its parkway trees every three years and its palms every year.
In Brea, a native oak on a big lot is the city's concern as well as yours.
Who governs tree work in Brea
City of Brea
Tree work in Brea follows the City of Brea's rules. The tree preservation rules cover commercial properties and any parcel or project site of 20,000 square feet or more, and on those lots you need a tree permit to remove a protected tree: oaks, willows, sycamores, Southern California black walnut, black and Fremont cottonwood and white alder at 6 inches DBH (12 inches combined for multi-trunk trees), and Tecate cypress of any size (Brea Municipal Code 20.74). Routine pruning that does not destroy the tree is exempt, and a removal application needs a certified arborist report. Rules change. Confirm current requirements with the jurisdiction before work begins — filing a permit is the property owner's responsibility, not ours.
What we handle
Native oak checks, roof clearance cuts and palm trims in Brea
Supreme Tree Experts removes, prunes and lowers trees in Brea, where eight native tree kinds are protected on big lots. For limbs too close to a hillside roof or chimney, Brea families bring in Supreme Tree Experts.
Tree Removal
We remove trees on Brea lots, from flat southern yards to the northern hillsides. Since July 2023, oaks, willows, sycamores and five other natives are protected on lots of 20,000 square feet or more. We check your lot size and species before any date is set.
Tree Trimming & Pruning
Our crews prune yard trees for shape, health and roof clearance. Routine pruning that does not destroy a tree is exempt from the city's native tree rules. That means a protected oak can still be thinned and cleaned up without a removal permit.
Stump Grinding & Stump Removal
Stumps come out below the soil on flat southern streets and northern hill lots alike. The grinder chases surface roots out from the trunk, so lawn or a bed can follow. Leave the chips as mulch if you like.
Palm Tree Trimming & Skinning
Yard palms get their brown fronds and seed stalks cut off, and their old frond bases skinned clean. The city trims its own parkway palms every year, and a yearly visit suits yours too. Our lift truck carries the crew to the tallest crowns.
Emergency Tree Service
When wind drops a limb on a roof or across a hillside drive, call us 24/7. Homes in Carbon Canyon sit on about 1,758 acres where houses meet wild land. We clear the tree and haul the wood away.
Tree Maintenance
Regular care keeps dead wood, leaves and needles off roofs and out of gutters. The Carbon Fire burned 205 acres at Carbon Canyon and Olinda roads in April 2026. Clean roofs and gutters matter most on lots near open space.
Tree Height Reduction
We shorten tall limbs and lower crowns with proper cuts, never by topping. The city's wildfire advice asks for trees kept off the roof and 10 feet from the chimney. Height work is how we meet that without ruining the tree.
Estate Tree Care
Large lots often hold several native trees, so each one is logged on a single yearly plan. Tecate cypress is protected here at any size, and removal of protected trees needs a certified arborist report. We flag every tree the city must approve.
Tree Shaping & Shrub Shearing
Shrubs near the house get shaped and hedges sheared so plants stay back from the walls. The city's wildfire advice asks owners to keep plants away from windows and the inside corners of walls. We cut each shrub back to match.
Landscaping
New planting here starts with the space you have. For the parkway, Brea says strip width and nearby utility lines decide if a tree fits. The rest of the yard is planned around that answer, with room for roots.
Hardscape
Stone paths, gravel and patios can help make the 30-foot fire break the city advises around homes near open space. We lay them over a compacted base and keep them clear of tree roots. Hard ground there does not burn.
Brea tree questions, answered
Start here — these 6 cover most of what you need before booking tree work in Brea. If yours is not here, call 877-787-7363 and ask.
It may be. Since July 18, 2023, Brea's native tree policy covers eight native kinds, such as oaks, willows and sycamores. It applies to every lot of 20,000 square feet or more and to all commercial land. Removed trees must be replaced at a set size and ratio. Ask the city before you cut.
Off the roof, and 10 feet from the chimney. Brea's wildfire advice asks for a 30-foot fire break around homes near open space. Keep roofs and gutters clear of leaves and needles, and keep plants away from windows and inside corners.
Every three years, or every year for palms. Each kind of parkway tree has a set schedule. If you think yours needs work sooner, call the city at 714-990-7691.
It depends on the width and the utilities. Brea says your parkway's width and any lines nearby decide whether you can have a tree, and which kind. Email TreeInterest@cityofbrea.gov to ask.
Yes — $600 for tree services, wherever the job is. In the hills and on steep lots, slope and truck access shape the price most.
Yes, 24/7. Strong winds can bring down limbs at night, when nobody expects them. Call 877-787-7363.
What happens after you call from Brea
- 01.
Native tree check
An arborist walks the lot, names each tree and flags any native kind the city may protect.
- Natives flagged
- Estimate at no cost
- 02.
Fire-smart plan
We plan cuts that keep limbs off the roof and chimney, and brush away from the house.
- Roof and chimney clear
- No topping
- 03.
Cut, chip, finish
The crew does the work, chips the brush and grinds any stumps you choose.
- Brush chipped
- Stumps below grade
How we handle Brea's protected natives and steep canyon lots
Tree work goes wrong when it is rushed or under-equipped. We run our own 75-foot boom trucks, lift trucks, chippers and stump grinders, and every crew works under an ISA Certified Arborist — so the job gets done right the first time.
We hold California license #1002853 for both landscaping and tree and palm work, we are bonded, we carry general liability and every employee is on workers’ compensation.
ISA Certified Arborist
An arborist visits free and checks for native trees the city now protects on larger lots.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Hillside work near oil-field land needs a careful crew. We hold license #1002853 (C-61/D-49 and C-27), are bonded, and insure every worker.
Southern California Since 1985
Brea was 68 years old as a city when our family business started in 1985. The family still runs it.
Our Own Equipment
Our own 75-foot boom trucks reach up steep slopes, and our chippers take the brush away.
Reviews to read before you book in Brea
Every word below was written by a customer on Google, not by us. Long reviews are shortened to fit the card — never reworded. None of them was left in Brea: they come from customers across Southern California. Read them for how a crew behaves on a job, then decide whether that is who you want in Brea.
“Great pricing & service. Highly competent with tricky jobs. We have used them for more than 10 years.”
Melanie Butler
Local Guide
“We got bids from five contractors. After I talked to them all and checked out their licenses and work, we decided to go with Supreme. … The job took a day and a half, and when they were done, they left the place immaculate.”
Hank Shaeffer
“Great tree trimmers! I’ve used Supreme Tree Experts twice to trim the palm trees in my yard. … The guys who come out are quick thorough, and clean. And very careful not to damage property.”
Emilie Pacheco
“These guys have worked on my property 3 times now. They are always on time and do a fantastic job. I highly recommend them!”
Ray Thompson
“After soliciting several quotes on some difficult yard work, we chose Supreme because of their licensed Arborist Temis … The crew was extremely hard working and we couldn’t believe their continuous work ethic on one of the hottest days of the year.”
Gary Brown
Local Guide
Brea and the area around it
Brea climbs from flat streets in the south to the hills and Carbon Canyon in the north.
- ZIP code
- 92823