Stump grinding & removal in Charlotte, NC

Stump grinding is usually a separate line item from removal — and worth specifying in writing. The grinding depth determines what you can do with the spot afterward: standard grinding (4-6 inches below grade) is enough for grass seed but not for replanting another tree. Deep grinding (12-18 inches) is required for replanting because the root flare has to be gone. Full extraction is rare and usually only required for new construction over the stump location.

Charlotte has the strictest tree ordinance of any major city in the Southeast. The Heritage Tree section of the Charlotte Tree Ordinance protects trees over 30" DBH (diameter at breast height) on private property — meaning a 100-year-old willow oak in a Myers Park yard cannot be removed without a permit and replacement plan, even if it is fully on your land. Same rule in Dilworth, Eastover, Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, and most of South End. Suburban Charlotte (Ballantyne, University area, Steele Creek) sees the rule less often only because the average tree age is younger.