Tree service in Union County, Oregon
Snow is the tree hazard in Union County: 99 of the 143 storm reports NOAA logged here since 2016 are heavy snow. February alone accounts for 45 reports.
Ranks 17 of 36 Oregon counties for wind, ice, snow and storm reports.
75% of reports fall November through February.
FEMA National Risk Index rates winter weather as “Relatively Moderate” here.
-1.1% since 2020 (Census Vintage 2025).
USDA 2023 zone covering most of the county.
Landscaping-services establishments, Census CBP 2023.
Storm records for Union County
Heavy snow is close to the whole story in Union County. It makes up 99 of 143 NOAA reports since 2016, about 69%, with hail and high wind tied a distant second at 13 each. Winter storms (6), ice storms (3) and two blizzard reports fill out the winter side.
February carries 45 reports, December 28 and January 27; the November through February share is 75%. The county ranks 17th of Oregon’s 36, near the middle. 2019 was the heaviest year, with 26 reports.
Reports have fallen from 50 in 2020 through 2022 to 28 in 2023 through 2025, about 44% fewer. For a homeowner, snow load means broken leaders and split crotches more than uprooted trees, which is what a structural prune addresses.
Reports by month, 2016 to 2026
| Event type | Reports |
|---|---|
| Heavy Snow | 99 |
| Hail | 13 |
| High Wind | 13 |
| Winter Storm | 6 |
| Wildfire | 3 |
| Ice Storm | 3 |
| Blizzard | 2 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 2 |
| Winter Weather | 1 |
| Strong Wind | 1 |
The largest episode began January 17, 2017, when a major winter storm brought heavy snow and ice to the region, with high winds and blizzard conditions in the Grande Ronde Valley. NOAA logged five reports for the Grande Ronde Valley, Blue Mountains and Wallowa zones: three for ice storm, one for high wind and one for blizzard.
NWS forecast zones covering the county: Grande Ronde Valley; Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon; Southern Blue Mountains of Oregon; Wallowa County.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to June 2026 · NWS zone-county correlation files (2019 to 2026 versions). Checked 2026-10-02. NOAA Storm Events 2016-2026; zone-based events assigned to every county the NWS zone covers using the zone-county correlation file in force on the event date (2019-04-02 file used for 2016-2018).
Hazard ratings
Strong wind: Very LowIce storm: Relatively LowWinter weather: Relatively ModerateWildfire: Relatively Moderate
FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025) rates Union County Relatively Low overall, Very Low for strong wind, Relatively Low for ice storms, and Relatively Moderate for winter weather (score 80.3) and wildfire. The winter score matches the NOAA record: snow load is the main tree risk.
USDA’s Forest Service puts the wildfire risk to homes higher than 69% of Oregon counties. On lots near the Blue Mountains, keep defensible space around the house as part of routine tree care.
Wildfire risk to homes: higher than 69% of Oregon counties (USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities).
What to do about wildfire exposure: defensible space in Washington and Oregon.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release · USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities (April 2026 download). Checked 2026-10-02.
Burning the debris
Oregon DEQ sets the burning rules for Union County under the statewide OAR 340-264, with no county-specific chapter. Check fire-district conditions before burning, and see the Oregon burning guide for the statewide rules.
Full rules, seasons and alternatives: yard debris burning rules in Oregon.
Source: Oregon DEQ. Checked 2026-10-02.
Power lines and utilities
Oregon Trail Electric Co-op is the mapped utility; report outages at (866) 430-4265. The co-op maintains clearances on its overhead transmission, distribution and secondary lines, but does not say whether that includes the service drop to your house. Ask before assuming it will clear a limb there, and never prune near a line yourself.
| Utility | Outage line | Tree trimming requests |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Trail Electric Co-op | (866) 430-4265 | request page |
| Umatilla Electric Co-op | (888) 465-5701 | request page |
Source: utility vegetation-management pages linked above; OAR 437-002-0306 (OR-OSHA). Checked 2026-10-02.
Cities and towns in Union County
Union County has 25,900 residents (Census, 2025 estimate, down 1.14% since 2020). La Grande is the largest city at 12,985, followed by Union (2,152), Elgin (1,717) and Island City (1,144). None has been researched for a tree-removal permit on this site yet; ask city hall before cutting a street tree, and see the Oregon permit guide.
| Place | Population | Private-tree permit rule |
|---|---|---|
| La Grande | 12,985 | Ask the city |
| Union | 2,152 | Ask the city |
| Elgin | 1,717 | Ask the city |
| Island City | 1,144 | Ask the city |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Vintage 2025 and 2020 Census. Checked 2026-10-02. Permit rules from each city’s code; see the city pages.
Labor index
No metro wage series covers Union County, so this page uses BLS’s Oregon statewide mean for tree trimmers and pruners: $35.40 an hour. That is a wage, not a price; the modeled crew rate below adds burden, equipment and overhead. Census County Business Patterns counted 12 landscaping-services establishments in the county in 2023, so book planned work before the winter rush.
Oregon statewide: $35.40 per hour mean wage for tree trimmers and pruners (BLS, May 2025); no metro estimate is published, so the statewide figure is shown. This is a labor index, not a price; the modeled crew-hour cost used on this site is $225 (method).
12 landscaping-services establishments were counted in Union County in 2023 (Census County Business Patterns, NAICS 561730).
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 37-3013 · U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 561730. Checked 2026-10-02.
Climate and growing conditions
All of Union County is USDA hardiness zone 6b. Pick replacement trees rated for 6b or colder, with strong branch unions to carry snow, and avoid brittle fast-growers near the house.
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map, by ZIP code).
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (OSU PRISM ZIP data). Checked 2026-10-02.
Nearby counties
- Umatilla County186 storm reports since 2016
- Baker County42 storm reports since 2016
- Wallowa County89 storm reports since 2016
- Grant County81 storm reports since 2016
- Morrow County82 storm reports since 2016
What to do next
Before snow season, have a risk assessment done on trees over the roof or driveway, and decide between trimming and removal. Call Oregon Trail Electric Co-op first if a tree is near a line.
Before hiring, confirm the company’s CCB license through the Oregon tree service license lookup.
Services: tree removal · trimming · stump grinding · emergency. Check any company: Oregon license lookup.
Major storms that reached Union County
These regional storms produced NOAA Storm Events reports in Union County since 2016. Each storm page lists the dates, report counts and the other counties hit.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 2016 to June 2026, checked 2026-10-02.
- NWS zone-county correlation files (2019 to 2026 versions), checked 2026-10-02.
- FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release, checked 2026-10-02.
- USDA Forest Service, Wildfire Risk to Communities (April 2026 download), checked 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Vintage 2025 and 2020 Census, checked 2026-10-02.
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 561730, checked 2026-10-02.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (OSU PRISM ZIP data), checked 2026-10-02.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 37-3013, checked 2026-10-02.
- Oregon DEQ, checked 2026-10-02.
- Oregon Trail Electric Co-op vegetation management, checked 2026-10-02.
- Umatilla Electric Co-op vegetation management, checked 2026-10-02.
Comparing quotes? Check these eight things first.
Two quotes for the same tree can differ by thousands. The gap is usually in what's included, not the cutting.
We don't vet or license anyone. These are the official lookups; each takes about a minute.
| What | Where | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon CCB license | CCB license search | Active status, bond, insurance on file, complaints |
| Oregon LCB license | LCB verify a license | Landscape contracting license, which covers tree work |
| Washington contractor registration | L&I Verify | Registration, bond, workers' comp, lawsuits, violations |
| ISA Certified Arborist | ISA directory | Current certification and credential number |
How to read them: Oregon guide · Washington guide
Westcoast-Tree.org is an independent information site. If you call a number on this site, the call goes to a tree service that covers your area and we may be paid a referral fee by that company. We don't perform tree work and we don't vet, license or insure anyone. Cost figures are modeled estimates, not quotes (method). Not affiliated with the former Westcoast Tree Care Inc of Tumwater, WA.