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Deodar cedars are among the most recognizable big trees in Sacramento: broad, soft-looking evergreen pyramids with drooping branch tips, planted in front yards, parks, and along older streets. They grow fast and live a long time — which is exactly why many homeowners eventually face a cedar that is far bigger than the yard it was planted in, crowding the house, dropping limbs, or hanging over the power lines. This guide covers what UC and Sacramento Tree Foundation sources say about deodar and other cedars, how to tell normal growth from real risk, the permit rules around Sacramento, and what removal typically costs.
"Cedar" covers several different trees in Sacramento yards:
UC Cooperative Extension Sacramento County's UC Cooperative Extension Sacramento County – Sacramento Area Landscape Trees (PDF) chart lists deodar cedar at 50 to 95 feet tall and 40 to 50 feet wide with deep roots and fast growth, noting it takes sun, wind, drought, and some cold, "needs much space," and that its "top nods naturally." Incense cedar is listed at 50 to 90 feet tall, slow-growing, and tolerant of heat, wind, and drought. UC IPM – Cedar sums up both: large, moderately fast-growing evergreen conifers, mostly "skyline-type trees and not widely adaptable to small gardens."
Many trees people call cedars are actually junipers, arborvitae, or cypress. That matters for pests: UC's UC IPM – Bark Beetles pest note says the "cedar and cypress bark beetles" attack arborvitae, cypress, false cypress, junipers, and redwood — not the true cedars.
The most common reason to remove a healthy cedar is simply space. The Sacramento Tree Foundation's deodar profile recommends planting it at least:
A deodar planted 6 feet from the house as a cute nursery tree can end up with limbs over the roof and needles in the gutters. If yours is near overhead lines, don't prune it yourself — see trees near power lines. If roots are lifting hardscape, see tree roots, sewers and foundations.
Cedars are big, heavy evergreens, and they do fail. UC's UC Western Tree Failure Database – species with 50 or more reports page listed 75 failure reports for deodar cedar and 73 for incense cedar as of January 10, 2026. The UC Western Tree Failure Database – Cedrus deodara page shows photos of a root failure, a high codominant-trunk failure, and several branch failures. In the database's UC Western Tree Failure Database – Branch failures by month summary (September 2011 data), 60% of the 87 Cedrus branch failures with a recorded date happened May through October, and 40% November through April — so summer limb drops are not unusual. The database cautions that report numbers reflect how common a species is where reports come from, not how often it fails compared with other trees.
Winter storms are the other big risk. The Sacramento Tree Foundation – Storm resources page notes that saturated soil and strong winds can topple trees whose roots can no longer anchor them, and that evergreens — including eucalyptus, cedars, redwoods, pines, and evergreen oaks — were especially hard hit in the severe storms of winter 2022–23. See what to do after a storm.
From the ground, look for the warning signs ISA lists in its ISA TreesAreGood – Recognizing Tree Risk (PDF) brochure: cracks in the trunk or limbs, codominant stems with included bark, cavities, mushrooms at the base, dead branches, and soil heaving or a new lean. A nodding leader on a deodar is normal; a newly leaning trunk is not. See leaning trees. For a formal assessment, look for an arborist with the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).
True cedars are tough, but not indestructible. UC IPM says cedars are hardy with few problems, but in hot areas need to be watered deeply a few times during summer "to avoid drought injury and bark beetle attack." Its pest list for cedars includes aphids, bark beetles, scales, canker diseases, needle blight, and Phytophthora root and crown rot. The bark beetle pest note adds that bark beetles frequently attack trees already weakened by drought, disease, or injury, that insecticide products available to home users aren't effective for bark beetle control, and that engraver beetles and red turpentine beetles don't attack Atlas cedars. UC IPM – Water Management and Pest Problems explains that severe, prolonged water stress causes shoot and branch dieback and favors wood-boring insects.
Signs that a cedar is in real decline: thinning or browning throughout the crown season after season, dead tops, pitch or boring dust on the trunk, or dieback that keeps spreading after watering is corrected. See dead or hazardous trees.
Not sure? An arborist may suggest removing deadwood, reducing end weight on long limbs, or clearance pruning instead. See tree removal vs. trimming: how to decide and tree trimming cost.
Deodar and Atlas cedars aren't native, and incense cedar isn't on the native-species lists that most local codes protect at small sizes, so size, location, and public ownership are what usually matter:
Other areas: City of Sacramento · unincorporated Sacramento County · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · West Sacramento · Davis. Measure the trunk at 4.5 feet (circumference ÷ 3.14) before you call. If you need documentation, see arborist reports for tree permits.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to cedars, 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 — but a mature deodar is often in the 60–80-foot row or above. A cedar over a roof or wires may need a crane or careful rigging, and Angi says hard-to-reach or unsafe locations often add 25%–50%. 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). See crane tree removal cost and tree removal cost by tree size.
A big cedar leaves a big stump and a lot of needles, cones, and branchwood. Ask each bidder whether stump grinding is included, how deep they'll grind, whether they'll grind major surface roots near hardscape, and whether chips will be hauled away or left as mulch. Stump grinding requires an 811 ticket before digging. See stump grinding cost.
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). For a tall cedar, ask how the crew will lower sections, whether a crane is needed, and how they'll protect the roof, fence, and lawn. In spring and summer, ask the crew to check for active nests first (Fish and Game Code § 3503). See how to hire a tree service and how to prepare for removal day. If you're replanting, the Sacramento Tree Foundation offers free siting consultations and up to 10 free shade trees to eligible properties through its SMUD partnership (Sacramento Tree Foundation – Growing a resilient urban forest). Other species guides: black walnut, olive, oak, pine, redwood, eucalyptus, sycamore, cottonwood, sweetgum, ash, elm, fruitless mulberry, and ornamental pear.
Maybe not. UC IPM places the true cedars (Cedrus), such as deodar and Atlas cedar, in the pine family, while incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a California native in the cypress family; UC Cooperative Extension's Sacramento tree chart describes deodar foliage as needles and incense cedar foliage as scales. Many trees people call "cedars" are actually junipers, arborvitae, or cypress. The difference matters for pests and sometimes for permits, so ask an ISA Certified Arborist if you're not sure.
They can. UC's Western Tree Failure Database had 75 reports of deodar cedar failures as of January 10, 2026, with photos of root, high codominant-trunk, and branch failures, and in its 2011 branch-failure data 60% of Cedrus branch failures happened May through October. The database notes that report counts reflect how common a species is where reports come from, not how often it fails, so have an arborist look at your own tree.
The Sacramento Tree Foundation's deodar cedar profile recommends planting it at least 18 feet from foundations, 25 feet from pools, 8 feet from hardscape, 6 feet from fences, and 30 feet from power lines, and lists a mature size of 50–80 feet tall and 40–50 feet wide. A tree much closer than that may eventually outgrow its space.
Usually only if it's large, a public tree, or tied to a development approval. Cedars aren't on the City of Sacramento's native protected list, but on a single-family or duplex lot any tree 32 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet is a private protected tree — and big deodars can reach that. Rancho Cordova protects any non-oak tree 24 inches or more on residential property, and West Sacramento requires a permit for heritage trees 75 inches or more in circumference. Check your city or county first.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to cedars, so height is the best guide. National published ranges (Angi and HomeGuide) run about $450–$1,500 for trees 30–60 feet and $800–$2,000 for 60–80 feet. Tall cedars near houses or power lines may need specialized rigging or a crane, and 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 · Fruitless mulberry removal · Leaning trees · Removal cost by tree size · Redwood removal · Cottonwood removal · Ornamental pear removal · Black walnut removal · Cedar removal · Olive removal