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Ash trees are everywhere in older Sacramento neighborhoods. Modesto ash in particular was planted by the thousands along streets and in front yards in the mid-1900s, and many of those trees are now old, mistletoe-laden, and in decline. Raywood ash, with its purple fall color, is common too. If you have an ash that's dropping leaves in spring, full of mistletoe, or showing dieback, this guide covers what UC and the Sacramento Tree Foundation say about the common problems, the new pest everyone is watching for, when removal makes sense, permits, and costs.
If you're not sure, an ISA Certified Arborist can identify the tree — useful because the species affects both the diagnosis and the replacement choice.
UC IPM – Anthracnose lists Modesto ash as susceptible to anthracnose and Evergreen/Shamel, Moraine, and Raywood ash as more resistant. It causes dead areas on leaves and early leaf drop, and in severe cases — notably on some ash cultivars — it can kill twigs and branches. New leaves usually grow back, and UC IPM says anthracnose doesn't seriously harm trees unless defoliation, branch dieback, or cankering occurs every year. UC IPM says preventive fungicide treatments have worked best on Modesto ash, but they must thoroughly cover new growth as buds open, and complete coverage of large, tall trees is difficult. Like sycamore anthracnose, it's usually not a reason by itself to remove a tree — see sycamore anthracnose for a similar story.
UC IPM – Mistletoes names Modesto ash as especially susceptible to broadleaf mistletoe, a parasitic plant that takes water and nutrients from the tree. Healthy trees can tolerate a few infected branches, but heavy infestations can weaken trees and cause dead branches, especially on trees already stressed by drought or disease. UC IPM's advice:
Many Modesto ash are simply old. In a Sacramento Tree Foundation interview, NeighborWoods leaders in Arden Park described their neighborhood as mostly a monoculture of Modesto ash that "initially worked quite nicely," but after 60–70 years the trees were starting to die — "in large part because of the monoculture as disease spreads quickly" — and the neighborhood had over 3,000 street trees to replace (Sacramento Tree Foundation – Q&A with NeighborWoods leaders in Arden Park). One leader added that Modesto ash gets mistletoe, which stresses the tree.
UC IPM says ash whitefly was accidentally introduced into California in 1988 and caused heavy honeydew and early leaf drop on infested plants (UC IPM – Ash whitefly parasitoid), but UC IPM – Whiteflies says it's now under good biological control in the state, so it's rarely seen in high numbers. It's rarely a reason to remove a tree today.
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that has killed millions of ash trees in other parts of North America. The Sacramento Tree Foundation – Emerald ash borer is on the West Coast post explains that it was found near Portland, Oregon in 2022, that its larvae tunnel under the bark and can kill an infested tree within 1–4 years, and that vulnerable species common in the Sacramento region include Raywood, Modesto, Oregon, Shamel, and Moraine ash, plus olives and fringe trees.
As of May 2026, UC ANR – Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week 2026 says EAB has not yet been recorded in California, and CDFA – Emerald Ash Borer Pest Information says it is not established in the state; California restricts importation of ash firewood and other potentially infested material. What you can do:
Don't remove a healthy ash just because of EAB fears — there's no known infestation here. But if you're already weighing removal of a declining Modesto ash, the replacement choice matters: UC suggests considering species that aren't susceptible to EAB.
For borderline cases, see tree removal vs. trimming: how to decide and when to trim trees.
Ash trees aren't covered by the native-oak rules that dominate local ordinances, so size and location usually decide:
Other areas: City of Sacramento · unincorporated Sacramento County · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · West Sacramento · Davis. In the City of Sacramento, removing a protected tree without a permit can bring penalties of $250 to $25,000.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to ash trees, so the best guide is height. These are national published ranges (estimates, not quotes) used across this site; Sacramento-area labor often runs above national averages:
| Height | Angi | HomeGuide |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 ft | $150–$450 | $200–$500 |
| 30–60 ft | $450–$1,200 | $500–$1,500 |
| 60–80 ft | $800–$1,500 | $850–$2,000 |
| Over 80 ft | $1,000–$2,000 | $1,200–$2,500+ |
Angi puts the national average around $750, and HomeGuide lists an $850 average. Add-ons often priced separately include stump removal (Angi: around $100–$150 per stump), cleanup and haul-off (about $70–$95), and a permit where required (around $60–$150). A declining tree with dead wood may need more careful rigging, which can raise the price. See tree removal cost in Sacramento and tree trimming cost if mistletoe pruning is an option.
Tree removal and most pruning of trees 15 feet or taller generally requires a CSLB license under Business and Professions Code § 7026.1 (C-49 Tree and Palm Contractor). Get two or three written quotes that say what's included — removal, stump grinding (call 811 first), haul-off, and cleanup — and ask how the wood will be disposed of. In spring and summer, ask the crew to check for active nests (Fish and Game Code § 3503). See how to hire a tree service, stump grinding cost, and how to prepare for removal day.
Usually only if it's large or a public tree. Ash trees aren't a native protected species in the City of Sacramento, so on a single-family or duplex lot an ash is a private protected tree only at 32 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet. Any tree whose trunk is in the park strip or other public right-of-way is a City tree and needs a City permit. Rules differ in other cities — Rancho Cordova protects any non-oak tree 24 inches or more on residential property.
Often ash anthracnose, a fungal disease. The Sacramento Tree Foundation says Modesto ash is prone to anthracnose, which causes leaves to fall off in spring, and UC IPM lists Modesto ash as susceptible while Raywood, Moraine, and Evergreen (Shamel) ash are more resistant. UC IPM says anthracnose doesn't seriously harm trees unless defoliation, branch dieback, or cankering occurs every year.
Not necessarily. UC IPM recommends pruning infested branches at least 1 foot below where the mistletoe attaches, or wrapping infestations on the trunk or major limbs with black plastic to block light. It says trees too severely infested to prune back can be removed, but that removal should be carefully considered because such trees are often large and valuable.
As of UC ANR's May 2026 update, emerald ash borer had not been recorded in California, though it was found in Oregon in 2022. The Sacramento Tree Foundation lists Modesto, Raywood, Oregon, Shamel, and Moraine ash among vulnerable local species. Watch for canopy dieback, 1/8-inch D-shaped holes in the bark, woodpecker activity, bark splitting, and shoots from the roots or trunk, and report suspected EAB to the county agricultural commissioner or CDFA.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to ash trees, so height is the best guide. National published ranges (Angi and HomeGuide) run about $150–$500 under 30 feet, $450–$1,500 for 30–60 feet, $800–$2,000 for 60–80 feet, and $1,000–$2,500 or more above 80 feet. Stump grinding, haul-off, and any permit are often extra.
We don't do tree work ourselves. Tell us about your tree and we'll connect you with independent local tree professionals so you can compare written quotes. Always verify the contractor's license and insurance at cslb.ca.gov.
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More guides: Stump grinding cost · Emergency/storm removal · Tree trimming cost · Palm tree removal · Tree permits · Tree fell on house: insurance · Neighbor & boundary trees · Oak tree removal · Dead/hazardous trees · Trees near power lines · Roots, sewers & foundations · Elk Grove permits · Roseville permits · Folsom permits · Citrus Heights permits · Rancho Cordova permits · Sacramento County permits · Davis permits · West Sacramento permits · Hiring a tree service · After a storm · Pine tree removal · When to trim · Defensible space · Landlords, tenants & HOAs · Trees & solar panels · Remove or trim? · Preparing for removal day · Eucalyptus removal · Crane removal cost · Tree removal in an HOA · Arborist reports for permits · Street trees: who's responsible · Sycamore removal · Sweetgum removal · Ash tree removal · Elm tree removal