Taking down a big cottonwood in Albuquerque with a crane
Old cottonwoods and Siberian elms in the valley and the older neighborhoods can outgrow the lot. When a tree leans over a roof, a wall or a line, a crane lets the crew lift it out in pieces instead of dropping it.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree near an Albuquerque street?
If the tree stands in a street, alley, sidewalk or other public place, the city ordinance requires a permit from the City Forester before anyone cuts, trims or removes it. The code treats a tree within 20 feet of the street edge as a street tree. A tree well inside a private yard does not need that permit, but the crane may still need a barricading permit if it takes a lane.
- Trees in streets, alleys, sidewalks and public places need a City Forester permit before work.
- The ordinance counts a tree within 20 feet of the street edge as a street tree.
- A crane lets the crew lift sections over a roof or block wall instead of dropping them.
- Federal rules keep the crane 10 feet from lines up to 50 kV.
The City Forester rule
Albuquerque’s street tree ordinance requires a permit from the City Forester before anyone cuts, trims or removes a tree in a street, alley, sidewalk or other public place. The code counts a tree within 20 feet of the street edge as a street tree, so a big tree in a front yard near the curb may qualify.
- Public place. Permit first, then work.
- Private backyard. No forester permit, but the crane may still sit in a city lane, which brings in the barricading permit.
- Village of Los Ranchos and Corrales. Separate villages with their own rules, so check before the crew shows up.
Why a crane
Valley cottonwoods grow large and spread wide, and Siberian elms drop limbs. When the tree leans over a roof, a pitched carport or a block wall, the pieces cannot fall. The crew rigs a section, the saw cuts it free and the crane swings it to the street or a trailer.
- Pick weight. Green cottonwood is heavy. The tree crew sizes each piece so the crane can hold it at the needed reach.
- Setup spot. The truck needs firm, level ground for its outriggers. A paved street or alley beats a dirt shoulder.
- Ditches and acequias. North Valley and Corrales lots often have irrigation ditches. Mark them so the outriggers stay clear.
Lines and wind
Federal rules keep the crane, the load and the rigging at least 10 feet from lines up to 50 kV, with more room for higher voltages. Tree work near lines often needs the utility involved first, so ask the tree crew how they handle it.
Spring is the windiest season in New Mexico. A tree section swinging on a crane line is a sail, so most crews plan big removals for calm mornings.
What a crane-assisted removal runs
| Job | Machine | Rough crane bill with 10% fuel |
|---|---|---|
| Elm over a garage, short reach | 25-ton truck crane, 4 hours | $836 |
| Large cottonwood over a house | 40-ton truck crane, 5 hours | $1,100 |
| Backyard tree, long reach from the street | 60-ton truck crane, 5 hours | $1,650 |
These cover the crane only, from the published rates. The tree crew bills its own time, and debris hauling is extra.
Other questions
Why use a crane on a tree instead of climbing it?
When a tree hangs over a house, a block wall, a pool or a line, there is nowhere safe to drop the pieces. The crane holds each section while it is cut and sets it in the street or driveway, which is faster and safer for the crew.
Who pays for removing a street tree?
That depends on the tree and the situation, so ask the City Forester when you apply for the permit. The permit itself comes before any cutting or trimming.
Can the crane reach a tree in the backyard?
Often, from the street or the alley, if the boom can clear the house. Long reaches need a bigger crane. A photo from the street and a rough distance from the curb to the trunk help the operator size it.
Where the Albuquerque numbers come from
- Albuquerque Code of Ordinances, street trees
- City of Albuquerque, barricading and excavation permitting
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408, power line safety
- Advanced Crane, published rate sheet
Have this lift priced by a New Mexico operator
A rough description is plenty.
Keep reading
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Albuquerque truck crane and stinger ratesA posted rate sheet from 14.5 to 100 tons, the 4-hour minimum, the fuel surcharge and early-start overtime.
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Lifting a swamp cooler or rooftop unit in AlbuquerqueCraning an evaporative cooler or rooftop HVAC unit in Albuquerque: stinger or truck crane, the barricade permit, spring wind, power lines and posted rates.
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Hiring a crane in Santa FeA crane in Santa Fe: the street obstruction permit, the $1,050,000 insurance rule, meter hoods, Fire Marshal sign-off, the I-25 drive and posted rates.