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Sweetgum — usually called liquidambar in Sacramento — is one of the region's most recognizable yard and street trees: star-shaped leaves, bright fall color, and a lawn full of spiky "gum balls." It was planted widely for decades, and many of those trees are now large and mature. That's when the complaints start: roots lifting the sidewalk, suckers popping up in the lawn, seed balls everywhere, and limbs that sometimes drop without warning. This guide covers what local and UC sources say about sweetgum problems, when removal makes sense, the permit rules around Sacramento, and what removal typically costs.
American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a large deciduous tree native to the eastern United States and Mexico. UC SelecTree – Liquidambar styraciflua describes it as developing a straight trunk and, at maturity, a broad, rounded crown, with five-lobed leaves and spherical fruits — the "gum balls" — that fall in spring. The Sacramento Tree Foundation – River Park Tree Tour (PDF) adds that the maple-shaped leaves can have brilliant fall color and that some trees have corky ridges on small branches.
Sweetgum's popularity is part of the story. The Sacramento Tree Foundation says Sacramento planting choices followed fashions: after eucalyptus, palms, and elms in the city's early days, fads shifted to Modesto ash, fruitless mulberries, liquidambars, and ornamental pears. Those species fell out of favor as residents found their traits — pest or disease problems, intrusive roots, weak branches or structure — didn't fit their neighborhoods (Sacramento Tree Foundation – Growing a resilient urban forest). The Foundation is careful to add that if you have one of these trees and it's healthy and not causing issues, you can keep enjoying it for a long time.
Sweetgum also has some strengths: SelecTree lists it as resistant to oak root fungus, and UC IPM says mistletoe rarely infests liquidambar (UC IPM – Mistletoes).
The UC Western Tree Failure Database – sweetgum branch failures page (a 2011 summary) covers 137 sweetgum failure reports in the database (38 trunk, 96 branch, and 3 root failures). Among the branch failures:
The practical takeaway: a large sweetgum hanging over a driveway, patio, play area, or roof deserves a periodic look by a qualified arborist, especially if it has a dense crown or codominant stems. Ask whether structural pruning would reduce the risk, or whether the tree's location makes removal the better choice. For risk assessments, see arborist reports and dead or hazardous trees.
Gum balls and leaf cleanup alone are a nuisance, not a hazard. If that's the main complaint, weigh the cost of removal and replanting against years of cleanup. Not sure? See tree removal vs. trimming: how to decide.
Many sweetgums were planted as street trees. In the City of Sacramento, a tree whose trunk is in the park strip, sidewalk, or other public right-of-way is a City tree maintained by Urban Forestry, and you can't prune or remove it without a permit. If you've received a City notice to repair a sidewalk and tree roots are the cause, the City says to call 311 after the sidewalk is removed and the roots exposed so a City arborist can recommend how roots should be cut (City of Sacramento – Tree Questions). See street trees: who's responsible. In some other cities — West Sacramento, for example — the adjacent owner is responsible for street trees.
Sweetgum isn't a native species, so the native-oak rules most local ordinances focus on don't apply. Size and location are what 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.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to sweetgum, 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 tall sweetgum over a house or wires may need rigging or a crane — see crane tree removal cost. More: tree removal cost in Sacramento.
Because older sweetgums can sucker and have large surface roots, ask each bidder what happens below ground: how deep they'll grind, whether they'll grind out major surface roots, and how they'll handle shoots that come up afterward. Stump grinding requires an 811 ticket before digging. In the City of Sacramento, a permitted City-tree removal requires the stump and nearby roots to be removed to 18 inches. 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). Get two or three written quotes that list removal, stump grinding, root grinding, haul-off, and cleanup. 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: sycamore, pine, and eucalyptus.
It depends on the trunk size and where the tree is. Sweetgum isn't a native protected species, so in the City of Sacramento a sweetgum on a single-family or duplex lot is a private protected tree only at 32 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet. But any tree whose trunk is in the park strip or other public right-of-way is a City tree and needs a City permit at any size. Other cities differ — Rancho Cordova, for example, protects any non-oak tree 24 inches or more on residential property.
Sweetgum is one of the species known for "summer limb drop," according to the UC Western Tree Failure Database. In its summary of 96 reported sweetgum branch failures, 68% broke at the point of attachment, and most were reported from July through November. Dense crowns, codominant stems, and branches heavy with seed pods were common factors.
UC SelecTree rates sweetgum's root damage potential as high and says its vigorous roots can damage sidewalks and pavement, so it needs ample planting space. The Sacramento Tree Foundation lists large surface roots and suckers among the problems of older trees. Whether roots threaten a foundation is a site-specific question for an arborist; in the City of Sacramento, root damage is one possible ground for removing a protected tree, but alternatives like root pruning or a root barrier are considered first.
We didn't find a reliable published price specific to sweetgum, 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 didn't find a reliable, research-backed method for stopping sweetgum fruit on a mature tree, so ask an ISA Certified Arborist what's realistic for yours. UC SelecTree notes the gum balls fall in spring and can create maintenance issues; for many owners the choice is regular cleanup or replacement with a different species.
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.
Tree removal costs by area: Sacramento · Elk Grove · Roseville · Folsom · Citrus Heights · Rancho Cordova · Carmichael · West Sacramento · Davis · Natomas · Antelope · Fair Oaks
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