STORM RESPONSE · BISMARCK, ND
Storm Damage Cleanup in Bismarck, ND
Bismarck Landscape cleans up after wind, hail and ice storms in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln. We remove fallen trees and broken limbs, haul branches and debris, and repair the lawn, beds and fence lines the storm tore up. Tree cutting is handled by a city-licensed arborist, as Bismarck requires.
Bismarck has had real cleanups lately. After the storm on June 20, 2025 and again after the early-morning storm on August 3, 2026, the city set up extra ways to get rid of branches.
SAFETY FIRST
Who to Call First
After a storm, start with the right call. Keep clear of any downed line and document damage before moving debris.
Not every storm problem is ours to handle, and the right first call saves time.
| What happened | Call first |
|---|---|
| A line is down, or branches are touching electric lines | Montana-Dakota Utilities at 800-638-3278, or the police. Stay 100 yards away. |
| A tree hit your house, garage or fence | Your insurance company. Take photos before anything is moved. |
| A boulevard tree (between sidewalk and street) is damaged | Bismarck Forestry at 701-355-1700, option 3 |
| A tree or limbs down in your own yard | Us |
WHAT WE HANDLE
What Our Storm Cleanup Covers
Fallen Trees and Large Limbs
We cut up and remove trees and big limbs that came down in your yard, on the fence or across the driveway. In Bismarck, the city requires a Commercial Arborist License for paid tree pruning or removal, so that part of the work is done by a licensed arborist.
Hanging and Broken Branches
Broken limbs stuck high in a tree can fall without warning. Nebraska Extension says loose or hanging branches “should be removed as soon as possible,” with clean cuts, and that a certified arborist should handle large branches and work in tall trees. We don’t climb or cut near electric lines. That’s the utility’s job.
Branch and Debris Hauling
We cut, load and haul branches, trunks and storm debris to the right place, so you’re not making a dozen trips with a pickup.
Yard, Bed and Fence-Line Repair
Once the wood is gone, we rake out twigs and shredded leaves, fix ruts from equipment, reseed or patch torn-up lawn, and clean up beds. Hail-shredded perennials get tidied without cutting them to the ground, which Nebraska Extension says weakens them.
THE CLEANUP PROCESS
How a Storm Cleanup Job Goes
- You call and tell us what’s down. Photos help us plan the crew and equipment.
- We look at it on site, including anything leaning or hanging that could still fall.
- You get a written price before work starts.
- Tree cutting by a licensed arborist, hanging limbs first.
- Wood and debris hauled away, or set out to the city’s rules if a pickup program is running.
- Yard cleanup and repair: raking, ruts, lawn and beds.
- Watering and follow-up advice for damaged trees that are staying.
For damaged trees you’re keeping, Nebraska Extension suggests a “wait and see” approach, deep watering in dry spells and no fertilizer to “help them recover.” See storm and hail recovery for your yard.
INSURANCE GUIDANCE
Insurance: Photos First, Then Cleanup
The North Dakota Insurance Department says to take photos and video before temporary repairs, file a claim “as soon as possible,” and keep receipts. Its storm line is (701) 328-2440.
As a general guide, the Maryland Insurance Administration says typical homeowners policies:
- Cover damage when a tree falls on your house or other structures
- Often pay “a limited amount (usually between $500 and $1,000)” to remove a fallen tree, per event
- Generally don’t cover wind damage to the trees themselves
Every policy is different, so check yours. We give you a written, itemized price you can send to your insurer.
CITY DISPOSAL RULES
Where Storm Branches Go in Bismarck
Normally, the city’s grass and leaf sites don’t take branches. Branches go to the Bismarck Landfill, where clean wood costs $40 a ton.
After big storms, the city usually adds options. After the August 3, 2026 storm, Bismarck Public Works offered:
- No-charge landfill drop-off of fallen branches through August 15
- No-charge boulevard pickup on regular garbage day the week of August 10 to 13
- Roll-off dumpsters at the Ash Coulee Water Tower and Cottonwood grass sites, for branches under 4 inches across, residential use only
After the June 2025 storm, the city asked residents to:
- Cut branches into lengths one person can handle
- Keep carts 4 feet from the pile
- Park 10 feet away
- Skip the alley
- Keep branches out of the street, where they block storm drains
Programs change after each storm, so watch the city’s news alerts.
ASH QUARANTINE
Ash Wood After a Storm
Emerald ash borer was found in Bismarck in August 2026, and Burleigh County is under a state quarantine. Ash logs, limbs, branches and chips, plus hardwood firewood of any kind, can’t leave Burleigh County without a permit. Civil fines can reach $5,000. That includes hauling Bismarck ash wood to Mandan.
A storm-damaged ash is also a good moment to decide about the rest of your ash trees. See should you treat or remove your ash tree.
TRANSPARENT PRICING
What Storm Cleanup Costs
| Item | Estimate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tree removal, Bismarck average | About $780 | LawnStarter, Sept 2026 |
| Tree removal, national average | About $906 | This Old House, Mar 5, 2026 |
| Emergency tree removal | Can run up to $5,000 | This Old House, Mar 5, 2026 |
| Clean wood at the Bismarck Landfill | $40 a ton | City of Bismarck |
These are market estimates, not quotes. Storm jobs vary a lot: a limb on the lawn is quick, while a big tree on a fence or across a tight back yard takes more crew, equipment and time. You get a written price before we start. See tree services in Bismarck.
HIRING SAFELY
Avoid Storm Chasers
The North Dakota Insurance Department warns that “dishonest contractors often show up from out of state” after storms. Protect yourself:
- Check the arborist license. Bismarck posts its list of licensed commercial arborists.
- Ask out-of-area crews for their transient merchant license from the Attorney General.
- Get written estimates, at least three on big jobs, as the Insurance Department advises.
- Don’t pay in full up front.
- Know you can cancel. The Attorney General says you have three business days to cancel a purchase over $25 made away from a seller’s place of business.
NEARBY COMMUNITIES
Storm Cleanup in Mandan and Lincoln
- Mandan: the city’s grass site at 8th Avenue SE and Highway 1806 South takes branches under 4 inches across. Bigger wood goes to the Mandan landfill, at $15 a ton for residents. Mandan is in Morton County, outside the Burleigh County ash quarantine, so Bismarck ash wood can’t be hauled there. See landscaping in Mandan.
- Lincoln: it’s in Burleigh County, so the ash quarantine applies. Lincoln has its own city rules for branch disposal, so we check them before we haul. See landscaping in Lincoln.
Questions
Storm Damage Cleanup FAQ
Practical answers after storm damage in Bismarck, Mandan and Lincoln.
Storm damage in your yard?
Call to discuss what fell and what cleanup is needed.
Who removes a tree that fell on my house?
Call your insurance company first and take photos before anything is moved. Then a licensed tree crew removes the tree. Many policies pay a limited amount, often $500 to $1,000, to remove a tree that hit a covered structure. If the tree is touching electric lines, call the utility before anyone touches it.
Who handles a damaged boulevard tree in Bismarck?
The City of Bismarck. Boulevard trees, in the strip between the sidewalk and street, belong to the city. Report damage to Bismarck Forestry at 701-355-1700, option 3, and don’t prune or remove a boulevard tree without a city permit.
How much does fallen tree removal cost?
LawnStarter’s September 2026 data puts the average Bismarck tree removal at about $780. This Old House’s March 2026 guide puts the national average at about $906 and says emergency removal can run up to $5,000. Storm jobs vary with size and access, so get a written price.
Does homeowners insurance pay for storm cleanup?
It depends on the policy. Generally, damage to your house or other structures from a fallen tree is covered, and many policies pay a limited amount to remove the tree. Wind damage to the trees themselves generally isn’t covered. Take photos first and call your insurer.
Can I put storm branches at the curb in Bismarck?
Only when the city runs a storm pickup. After the August 3, 2026 storm, Bismarck offered boulevard pickup on garbage day the week of August 10 to 13. Normally, branches go to the Bismarck Landfill, where clean wood costs $40 a ton. Never put branches in the street.
Does a tree service need a license in Bismarck?
Yes. Anyone doing commercial tree pruning or removal in Bismarck needs a city Commercial Arborist License, which requires ISA certification or a City Forester certificate plus $2,000,000 in liability insurance. The city posts a public list of licensed arborists.
Bismarck Landscape
Storm Hit Your Yard?
Tell us what happened in your yard. We can discuss what fell, what equipment is needed and the next steps for cleanup.
See our contact options and storm and hail recovery guide.