Florence, SC Tree Removal Guide: Storms, Beetles, 811

Updated October 25, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Tree service license	No state arborist or tree service license; pesticide work on trees for hire needs a commercial license (Category 3, ornamental and turf)	Clemson DPR; Start Business by State
Digging and grinding	Request SC811 marks 3 to 12 business days ahead; 24-inch tolerance zone each side plus half the line's width	SC811 Quick Reference Guide 2026
Power lines	Don't hire a private contractor or do it yourself near lines; contact the utility	SC Office of Regulatory Staff
Pine bark beetles	Infested trees won't benefit from treatment; remove infested and damaged trees	Clemson HGIC
Bradford pear	Callery pear sales banned in SC since October 1, 2024; owning one is legal	Clemson News
Storm history	Matthew 2016: 67 mph gust at Florence airport; Feb. 2014 ice: over 1 inch in Marion and southern Florence County	NWS Wilmington
City trees	Florence is a Tree City USA for 46 straight years (2026)	City of Florence

Does a tree service need a license in South Carolina?

Not a tree-specific one. South Carolina doesn't issue an arborist or tree service license, and ISA certification is voluntary. The one state credential that does apply is for pesticides: Clemson University's Department of Pesticide Regulation runs applicator licensing, and its Category 3, Ornamental and Turf Pest Control, covers pest control on ornamental trees, shrubs, flowers and turf. Clemson says licensing is mandatory in that category, so a company that sprays or injects trees for hire should have it.

Everything else is on you to check. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance, proof of workers' compensation, whether an ISA Certified Arborist will look at the tree, and a written scope of work. Cities and counties may also require a business license, so check with the City of Florence or Florence County.

Do I need to call SC811 before stump grinding?

Yes. Grinding is excavation, and South Carolina law requires a locate request before digging. SC811's 2026 quick reference guide says to request marks three to twelve business days ahead, gives utilities three full business days to respond (not counting the day of the request, weekends or holidays), and sets the tolerance zone at 24 inches on each side of the marks plus half the width of the facility. Utilities only mark public lines they own and maintain; private lines are the property owner's responsibility. Before digging, confirm every utility has responded, then close the ticket when the job is done. South Carolina's updated Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act took effect May 22, 2026, and SC811 says only approved soft digging is allowed inside the tolerance zone, so check the current rules before relying on older guidance.

What are the rules near power lines?

South Carolina's Office of Regulatory Staff says trees with branches near power lines should be worked on by qualified utility line clearance professionals, and tells homeowners not to hire a private tree contractor or try it themselves. Call your utility first. Utilities generally prune directionally, removing growth toward the lines, and ORS notes that higher-voltage lines need more clearance. ORS doesn't regulate tree trimming itself but can help with other utility complaints. Clemson Extension adds that every downed line should be treated as energized.

What's killing pines in Florence yards?

Clemson's Home & Garden Information Center names three pine bark beetles common in South Carolina: southern pine beetle, Ips engraver beetles and black turpentine beetle. They mainly attack stressed pines, with stress from crowding, drought, disease, soil compaction, equipment damage and lightning. Signs include crown needles that change from yellow to orange to red, pitch tubes on the bark, brown sawdust and small exit holes. In South Carolina, southern pine beetle can have four to six generations a year and Ips six to eight. Clemson says trees already showing signs won't benefit from treatment, that some insecticides can protect healthy neighbors, and that removing infested and diseased trees, plus Ips-infested slash and downed trees, reduces the risk to the rest.

Should I remove my Bradford pear?

That's your call. Clemson News reported that Callery pear, including Bradford pear, was added to South Carolina's State Plant Pest List, with sales banned starting October 1, 2024. Owning one is still legal. The ban is about invasiveness: the trees spread by bird-carried seed, crowd out native plants and grow thorny thickets. Many owners take theirs out when they start splitting or dropping limbs and replace them with natives.

How have storms hit Florence-area trees?

The National Weather Service office in Wilmington documents the big ones. Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 brought a 67 mph gust and 12.77 inches of rain to the Florence airport and 14.52 inches to Marion. Hurricane Florence in September 2018 gusted to 61 mph at Florence, damaged some trees and roofs, left about 12,000 customers without power at the peak, and flooded the Lynches and Great Pee Dee rivers. The February 2014 ice storm put more than an inch of ice on a band through Marion County and southern Florence County. Forest damage across the region was estimated at $360 million, state forestry officials compared it to Hurricane Hugo, and Florence and Marion counties were declared federal disaster areas.

Clemson Extension's advice is that trees with defects should be removed by the owner rather than by the storm, that trees should be checked at least twice a year, and that topping makes trees more vulnerable to wind.

Questions to ask a tree service

Can I see your certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers' comp?
Will an ISA Certified Arborist look at the tree, and could it be saved?
How will it come down, and how will you protect the house, lawn and septic system?
Are cleanup, log hauling and stump grinding included?
Who files the SC811 request before grinding?
If you'll spray or inject anything, can I see your Clemson commercial applicator license?

Common questions

Is there a state license for tree services in South Carolina?

No tree-specific license exists. Companies that apply pesticides to trees for hire need a commercial applicator license through Clemson's Department of Pesticide Regulation.

How much notice does SC811 need before I grind a stump?

SC811's 2026 guide says to request marks three to twelve business days before digging. Utilities have three full business days to respond.

Is it illegal to have a Bradford pear in South Carolina?

No. Sales have been banned since October 1, 2024, but keeping one on your property is legal.

Florence, South Carolina tree removal guide (2026)