Ooltewah & East Brainerd · checked Nov 12, 2026

Tree removal and storm damage in Ooltewah and East Brainerd

This corner of Hamilton County took the worst of the 2020 Easter tornado. Rules depend on whether you're inside Chattanooga, Collegedale or the unincorporated county.

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April 12, 2020

The EF3 tornado reached peak strength near East Brainerd Road, widened to about 1,500 yards across the Holly Hills neighborhood, where the NWS survey found tree trunks snapped "nearly as far as you could see," and did more damage in Ooltewah near the Summit softball complex before weakening past South Lee Highway. Roads were blocked by tree debris and fallen power poles.

Which rules apply to you

Parts of East Brainerd are inside Chattanooga, where City brush pickup and the $75 City burn permit apply. Collegedale is also in the City permit area. Ooltewah outside those cities is unincorporated Hamilton County: the Air Pollution Control Bureau's $15 county burn permit applies (October 1 to April 30, no stumps), and there is no City curbside brush route.

Disposal without curbside pickup

The City of Chattanooga's landfill at 9327 Birchwood Pike, Harrison, and its Wood Recycling Center, 3925 North Hawthorne Street, take brush, per the Air Pollution Control Bureau. Most homeowners have the tree crew haul it.

Stump grinding and 811

Tennessee 811 needs 3 working days' notice before digging; the ticket lasts 15 days.

Services

• Tree removal
• Emergency & storm
• Stump grinding
• Tree trimming
• Cost guide