If the tree is on the sidewalk or in another public space in Aracaju, the pruning request should be directed to the Municipal Urban Services Company (Emsurb). If the tree is inside a private property, pruning is the property owner's responsibility. If branches are close to or touching power lines, the City advises contacting Energisa. Removing the entire tree — suppression/removal — requires authorization from the Municipal Environment Department (Sema). In an emergency, such as an immediate risk of a tree falling, Civil Defense can be reached at 199.
Who to contact in each situation
| Situation | Who to contact | Main channel | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree on a sidewalk, square, median or public road needs pruning | Emsurb | (79) 3021-9999 (WhatsApp) or (79) 3021-9908 | Emsurb handles trees in public areas; requests go through assessment and scheduling. |
| Tree inside a yard, condominium or business property | Property owner | Specialized company | Emsurb does not perform pruning inside private property. |
| Branches close to or touching the power grid | Energisa Sergipe | 0800 079 0196 | Do not prune or climb the tree yourself; proximity to the grid creates electrical risk. |
| Tree leaning, cracked or at immediate risk of falling | Emsurb and, in an emergency, Civil Defense | Emsurb: (79) 3021-9999 / 3021-9908; Civil Defense: 199 | 199 operates 24 hours for risk and emergency incidents. |
| Tree has already fallen on a public road | Emsurb | (79) 98880-2091, from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. | This is the exclusive channel for urgent fallen-tree incidents outside normal office hours. If there is an emergency involving risk to life, also call 199. |
| Request to remove the entire tree | Sema | Vegetation Suppression Authorization through the municipal system | The tree should not be removed on your own; environmental assessment/authorization is required. |
Tree on a sidewalk or in a public area: request pruning from Emsurb
Emsurb is the municipal agency responsible for pruning trees on roads and in public spaces in Aracaju. The City itself clarifies that its work includes areas outside properties, such as sidewalks, squares and areas near the curb. In 2025, the municipality reported 12,373 pruning jobs, including requests filed by residents, and in 2026 it continued to operate a daily service schedule.
To file a request, Emsurb's Ombudsman's Office lists the phone numbers (79) 3021-9908 and (79) 3021-9999, with the latter also available on WhatsApp. Administrative service runs Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. In January 2026, the City also reported an average wait of about 30 days for scheduled pruning, subject to change after the tree and site are assessed.
Source: City of Aracaju — pruning and tree removal in 2026 and Emsurb Ombudsman's Office.
Tree inside a property: pruning is the owner's responsibility
If the tree is inside a house, condominium or business property, Emsurb does not perform the pruning. Municipal guidance is that the person responsible for the property should hire a specialized company to carry out the work safely.
This rule changes if there is interference with the power grid or if the goal is to remove the entire tree. In those cases, the specific rules of Energisa and Sema apply, respectively. Before hiring a cutting service, identify whether branches are close to wiring and whether the intended work is pruning only or complete removal.
Branches near power lines: contact Energisa and do not prune them yourself
When branches are close to or touching the power grid, the City of Aracaju advises that the request be sent to the electricity distributor. Energisa reinforces that no one should prune or climb a tree near power lines because vegetation can conduct electricity and cause electric shock, electrical arcing, short circuits or broken cables.
For Sergipe, Energisa's phone number is 0800 079 0196. If a cable has broken, keep your distance, prevent others from approaching and contact the utility immediately. For trees in public areas, coordination between the distributor and the municipality may be required to perform the work safely; for residents, the key point is not to start cutting while there is electrical risk.
Source: Energisa — safety around trees and power lines and Energisa — phone service.
Risk of falling: distinguish a maintenance request from an emergency
A leaning tree, visible cracks, exposed roots, large broken branches or recurrent branch failure may require a technical assessment. For a tree in a public area, the resident can report the situation to Emsurb. Assessing the tree's condition and determining whether removal is necessary involves technical analysis and, when required, participation by Sema.
If the risk is immediate — for example, a tree that appears about to fall, a post-storm situation, or a threat to people, vehicles, buildings or structures — Aracaju Civil Defense advises calling 199. The service operates 24 hours a day. Stay away from the risk area and do not remain or park under the tree.
Source: Aracaju Civil Defense.
Fallen tree on a public road: Emsurb has a specific night emergency channel
Since February 2026, Emsurb has maintained an exclusive channel for urgent incidents involving fallen trees on public roads outside normal office hours. The number is (79) 98880-2091, available through WhatsApp, and it operates daily from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
During office hours, Emsurb's Ombudsman's Office remains the regular channel. If the fall has created a life-threatening situation, a dangerous blockage, damage to a structure, or occurred in a disaster context, Civil Defense at 199 should also be called. If electrical wires or equipment have been affected, keep your distance and contact Energisa.
Source: City of Aracaju — fallen-tree emergency channel.
Complete tree removal: Sema authorization is required
Complete removal is not the same as pruning. When the intention is to remove a tree, the Municipal Environment Department must assess and authorize the intervention. The municipal portal lists the Vegetation Suppression Authorization service in its environmental services area. Authorization depends on technical analysis; the City also states that the measure may require environmental compensation.
In a public area, once environmental authorization is issued, the work is carried out by the public authorities, with Emsurb involved in execution. On private property, the owner is responsible for carrying out and paying for the work, always subject to the authorization and applicable environmental requirements. Complete removal should not be treated as ordinary pruning.
Source: Slim Aracaju — environmental services and City of Aracaju — authorization to remove trees.
What to provide when filing a pruning request
The City explains that Emsurb's request form may ask for information to identify the requester and locate the tree. To avoid delays, have the following ready:
- full name and CPF (Brazilian taxpayer ID);
- email address and contact phone number;
- full address and a nearby landmark;
- whether the tree is in a public area;
- whether branches are close to or touching power lines;
- a concise description of the problem, such as a broken branch, leaning tree, blocked passage or apparent risk.
Photos can also help when the channel allows attachments, but they do not replace an on-site technical inspection.
What not to do
- Do not prune a tree yourself if it is in a public area. Public trees are under the responsibility of the competent authorities.
- Do not cut branches near power lines. Even without visible contact with a wire, close proximity can be dangerous.
- Do not remove an entire tree without environmental authorization. Complete removal depends on Sema's assessment.
- Do not approach an unstable tree, broken cables or branches resting on the grid. In an emergency, prioritize keeping people away from the area and use the emergency channels.
- Do not confuse branch-waste collection with authorization to prune. Ecopoints and waste services deal with disposal of material; permission to intervene in the tree follows the urban-tree management channels.
Useful official contacts
- Emsurb — Ombudsman's Office: (79) 3021-9908 and (79) 3021-9999 (WhatsApp), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Emsurb — fallen tree on a public road outside office hours: (79) 98880-2091 (WhatsApp), daily from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Aracaju Civil Defense: 199, 24 hours a day, for emergencies and risk situations.
- Energisa Sergipe: 0800 079 0196, for incidents involving the power grid.
- Sema: vegetation suppression authorization through the municipal environmental-services system.
Contact channels and procedures may be updated by the responsible agencies. For a specific incident, check the official channel at the time of the request, especially during periods of heavy rain, strong winds or changes in office hours.
