We get the same questions on almost every call. How much does it cost? Do you need a permit? Are you actually insured? Can you come today? Rather than making you sit through a 20-minute quote call just to get basic answers, we’ve put everything here — straight, honest, no marketing fluff. If you don’t find what you need, call us directly at 647-558-1366 and a real arborist picks up, not a call centre.
Emergency & Response Time
How quickly can you respond to emergency calls?
Our standard emergency response window is 2 hours across the GTA. If you have a tree actively blocking a driveway, leaning into a structure, or threatening power lines after a storm, call 647-558-1366 now. We run a dedicated emergency crew available 24/7 — evenings, weekends, and holidays included. Most emergency calls in Toronto, Scarborough, and North York are assessed on-site within the hour. If we can’t get there immediately, we give you a straight timeline, not a vague “we’ll try.” Visit our emergency tree removal page for more detail.
Can you handle hazardous trees near power lines?
Yes. Trees in contact with or threatening Toronto Hydro or Hydro One lines require specialized rigging and fall within strict utility clearance protocols. Our crew is trained in line-clearance work — we don’t improvise near live conductors. For trees actually touching active lines, we coordinate with the utility company where required and work within their approved clearance windows. We’ve handled these jobs across Etobicoke, North York, and East York. Don’t wait on a power-line hazard — call 647-558-1366 immediately.
Do you handle emergency storm-damage cleanup?
Yes. After major storms we mobilize cleanup crews for fallen trees, broken limbs, and debris across the GTA. This covers trees on driveways, decks, fences, and damaged rooflines. We photograph and document the damage on-site — your insurer will typically ask for that. If you need a written arborist report for a storm-damage insurance claim, we provide that as a separate service. Call 647-558-1366 for same-day storm response, or check our dead tree removal guide for what to look for after a major event.
What counts as a tree emergency?
Anything posing an immediate safety risk: a tree leaning toward a structure, a broken limb hanging over a car or roof, a root-ball uplift after a windstorm, or a tree in contact with power lines. Dead or diseased trees that aren’t actively threatening something are urgent but not usually same-day emergencies — we can typically schedule those within the week. If you’re unsure, call 647-558-1366 and describe what you’re seeing. We’ll tell you honestly whether it needs immediate attention or can wait for a standard booking.
Do you respond on weekends and statutory holidays?
Yes. Our emergency line is live 24/7, including statutory holidays. We’ve run emergency callouts on Christmas Eve, during polar vortex weeks, and after the February 2026 ice event across North York and Etobicoke. The call goes to a crew member, not an answering service. Weekend and after-hours premium rates may apply for non-emergency work scheduled outside business hours, but we’ll always disclose that clearly before you commit to anything.
Pricing & Quotes
How do you price tree removal?
We price on four factors: tree height, trunk diameter, access (can equipment get close?), and hazard level (dead wood, lean, proximity to structures). A small tree under 20 feet in an open backyard starts around $300–$450 CAD. A large 50–70 foot tree with tight laneway access in Toronto can run $1,500–$3,000 CAD. We give a firm written quote before any work starts — what you sign is what you pay. For a full breakdown by tree size and neighbourhood, see our 2026 cost guide.
Do you offer free quotes?
Yes. Every quote is free, written, and carries no obligation. We visit the property, assess the tree, check access, and give you a line-by-line number before anything is booked. For straightforward jobs we often quote same-day. We don’t give ballpark estimates over the phone for jobs we haven’t seen — tree prices depend too much on site conditions to be honest without a proper look. Call 647-558-1366 to schedule yours.
What are typical price ranges in 2026?
Based on real 2026 jobs across the GTA: small trees under 20 ft: $300–$500 CAD; medium trees 20–40 ft: $500–$900 CAD; large trees 40–60 ft: $900–$1,800 CAD; very large or crane-assisted trees 60+ ft: $1,800–$3,500+ CAD. Stump grinding adds $150–$350 per stump. Vaughan and Mississauga jobs sometimes run 5–10% lower due to easier access. These are real numbers from our job history — not a theoretical range built from a cost calculator. Full breakdown in our 2026 Toronto tree removal cost guide.
Do you bundle removal, stump grinding, and cleanup?
Yes, and bundling is almost always cheaper than booking services separately. Our most common booking is a single-scope job: removal, stump grinding, and full debris removal. We quote it as one number. Stump grinding at time of removal saves on mobilization — going back for just a stump later costs more. Ask for the bundle quote when you call 647-558-1366; we’ll break it down line by line so you can see exactly where the money goes.
What’s the cost difference between you and competitors?
We’re mid-market — not the cheapest quote in the GTA and not trying to be. Unlicensed operators sometimes quote $200–$300 for a job that requires certified rigging and liability insurance. The savings vanish fast when something goes wrong. Our prices reflect ISA certification, $5 million in liability coverage, WSIB for every crew member, proper equipment, and crew training. Most homeowners who’ve dealt with a property damage claim from an uninsured company wish they’d paid more upfront. See our removal vs. trimming comparison for context on scope and cost.
Are there extra charges I should know about?
The main add-ons we disclose upfront: crane access for very large trees ($300–$600 CAD), disposal fees for extra-heavy debris loads, and after-hours emergency premiums. We don’t tack on hidden fees — the quote you sign is the invoice total. Permit fees (if the city requires them) are the homeowner’s responsibility, though we guide you through the application. Call 647-558-1366 and ask us to walk you through every line before you book.
Credentials & Insurance
Are you ISA certified arborists?
Yes. Our lead arborists hold ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certification, which requires passing a comprehensive exam covering tree biology, diagnosis, pruning, removal, and soil science — plus ongoing continuing education to maintain the credential. ISA-certified arborists don’t just cut trees; they assess them first. That matters for complex removals, disease diagnosis, and any job where a written professional opinion carries legal or insurance weight. Learn what an ISA assessment covers on our arborist consultation page.
What’s your insurance coverage?
We carry $5 million in general liability insurance plus WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) coverage for every crew member. The liability policy protects you as the property owner if anything goes wrong during the job — property damage, structural impact, anything. Before you hire any tree company in Toronto, ask them to email you a certificate of insurance showing at least $2M liability and WSIB clearance. We send ours before you book, no questions asked. Call 647-558-1366 to request it.
Are your workers covered by WSIB?
Yes, all crew members are covered under WSIB. This matters more than most homeowners realize: if a worker is injured on your property and the company doesn’t carry WSIB, Ontario law can hold you as the property owner liable for the claim. Don’t skip this question when comparing quotes. Ask every company: “Can you provide a current WSIB clearance certificate?” If they can’t, that’s a hard no. We provide ours upfront. Call 647-558-1366.
How long have you been operating in the GTA?
15+ years in the GTA. We’ve been working this market since the early 2010s — through the 2013 ice storm, the emerald ash borer waves that hit Toronto’s ash tree canopy hard, and the 2017 Chapter 813 updates that changed permit thresholds. That track record means we’ve seen the edge cases: the tree that looked solid but had hollow basal decay, the permit that needed a hazard exemption, the narrow laneway job everyone else turned down. Call 647-558-1366 to talk through whatever you’re dealing with.
Do you have references or reviews?
Yes. We have verified Google reviews from homeowners across Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and Vaughan. When you book, we’re happy to connect you with a recent customer in your neighbourhood — someone who had a similar job — so you can ask them directly what the experience was like. We’d rather you hear it from a neighbour than take our word for it. Call 647-558-1366 and ask.
Service Area
What areas of the GTA do you service?
We cover Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Mississauga, Markham, and Brampton as our primary service area. If you’re in an adjacent area — Oakville, Ajax, Richmond Hill, Pickering — call us; we service those regularly depending on job scope. We know each GTA area’s quirks: narrow laneways in the Annex and Kensington Market, ravine-adjacent lots in Don Mills and Leaside, tight subdivision access in newer Brampton developments. Use the city links to find neighbourhood-specific info: Toronto | Scarborough | North York | Etobicoke | Vaughan | Mississauga | Markham | Brampton.
Do you remove trees in Toronto ravine areas?
Yes, but ravine-adjacent properties carry additional layers of protection beyond Chapter 813 — specifically Toronto’s Ravine and Natural Feature Protection Bylaw. Trees within or adjacent to a ravine corridor may require a separate permit review or exemption application. We assess your tree’s protection status before quoting, so you don’t discover a permit requirement after agreeing to a price. For ravine-adjacent jobs in Don Mills, Leaside, Sunnybrook, or the Humber Valley, book an arborist consultation first.
Do you service commercial and multi-unit properties?
Yes. We work with property managers, landlords, HOAs, small commercial buildings, and multi-unit residential complexes across the GTA. Commercial jobs require the same $5M liability and WSIB — arguably more critical given foot-traffic liability exposure. We can quote recurring contract work (biannual inspections, annual pruning) or one-off removals. If you manage multiple properties, ask about consolidated billing. Call 647-558-1366 to discuss your portfolio.
Booking Process
What’s your booking process?
Four steps: (1) Call 647-558-1366 or request a quote online. (2) We schedule a site visit — usually within 1–2 business days. (3) You receive a written, itemized quote. (4) You approve, we schedule the crew. Most standard jobs book within the week. Emergency work can be same-day or next-day depending on crew availability. We don’t take deposits for standard jobs — you pay on completion, after you’ve seen the work done right.
How long does a typical tree removal take?
A small-to-medium tree (under 40 feet) in good access takes 2–4 hours including stump grinding and cleanup. A large tree (40–60 ft) in a tight backyard with limited equipment access can take a full day with a three-person crew. Very large or crane-assisted removals may require two days. We give you a time estimate at the quote stage — we won’t leave a half-finished job overnight and we don’t disappear mid-project. Call 647-558-1366 with your timeline questions.
Do I need to be home during the removal?
Not necessarily. Most homeowners arrange access in advance and leave contact instructions. We do recommend being reachable by phone during the job in case site conditions change (e.g., we find additional decay, or access is tighter than expected). Let us know in advance about locked gates, pets in the yard, irrigation systems near the stump, or buried cables in the grinding zone. The more we know before arrival, the smoother the job goes.
What happens to the debris?
All debris — wood, branches, chips — is hauled off-site and properly disposed of. We don’t leave anything on your property unless you ask us to. If you want firewood sections from a healthy removal, tell us in advance; we’ll cut the trunk to length instead of chipping it. Wood from disease-positive trees (emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease) is disposed of according to MNRF guidelines — no burning, no off-site movement of untreated material. Call 647-558-1366 to confirm debris preferences before your booking.
Permits & Bylaws
Do you handle Toronto Chapter 813 permits?
We guide you through the process and provide the required arborist’s supporting letter, but the permit application itself is submitted by the property owner to the City of Toronto’s Urban Forestry. The city’s portal requires ownership documentation, a site plan, and an arborist’s letter describing the tree and rationale for removal. We provide that letter as part of our service for permit-required jobs. Applications typically take 5–10 business days. For genuine hazard emergencies, there’s a fast-track exemption process we can help you navigate.
What trees require a permit in Toronto?
Under Chapter 813, any tree with a trunk diameter of 30 cm (about 12 inches) or greater measured at 1.4 metres above ground (breast height) requires a permit to remove on private property in the City of Toronto. Protected species and trees in ravine protection zones may have lower thresholds. Outside Toronto proper — Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Brampton — each municipality has its own tree removal bylaw, and the thresholds differ. Call us at 647-558-1366 and we’ll confirm what applies to your property and municipality.
What are the fines for removing a tree without a permit?
Fines under Chapter 813 range from $500 to $100,000 per tree, depending on species, size, and circumstances. For significant protected trees on development sites, the city has issued six-figure fines. Homeowners removing a single borderline-sized private tree sometimes face the lower end, but the enforcement risk is real and increasing. We’ve seen the paperwork. The permit process isn’t fun, but it’s far better than a bylaw officer showing up after the fact. Get the permit before anything is cut.
Is there a faster permit track for hazard trees?
Yes. The City of Toronto has a hazard tree exemption process that can accelerate or waive the permit requirement when a tree poses an immediate safety risk. To qualify, the hazard must be documented by an arborist — structural defects, active lean, root failure, proximity to occupied structures. We prepare the arborist’s hazard report, submit it to Urban Forestry, and in genuine emergencies removal can proceed before a standard permit clears. Call 647-558-1366 and we’ll assess your situation.
Do you provide written arborist reports?
Yes. We provide written arborist reports for permit applications, insurance claims, pre-construction tree assessments, and property sale due diligence. Reports are prepared by our ISA-certified arborist and are accepted by the City of Toronto’s Urban Forestry and by major Canadian insurers. There is a fee for standalone reports (separate from the removal scope). The report includes species identification, health assessment, risk rating, and recommendations. Call 647-558-1366 or visit our arborist consultation page to discuss what yours needs to cover.
Service Offerings
Do you do stump grinding?
Yes. Stump grinding is one of our core services — we grind to 6–8 inches below grade, which is sufficient for lawn re-seeding or paving over. We clean up the grindings and rough-grade the hole before we leave. Stump grinding is most cost-effective bundled with removal: $150–$250 add-on at time of removal vs. $200–$400 for a standalone stump call (due to separate mobilization). Before we grind, we call Ontario One Call to locate buried services. Visit our stump grinding page for details.
Do you handle dead or diseased trees?
Yes — dead tree removal makes up a large portion of our work. Dead wood is higher-risk because decay is unpredictable: a trunk that looks solid can have advanced hollow decay at the root collar. We assess structural integrity before cutting and adjust our rigging plan accordingly. For disease-specific situations — emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease, verticillium wilt — we assess whether removal is necessary or whether treatment is still viable. Our 2026 dead tree removal guide covers the full diagnosis checklist and cost breakdown.
Do you do tree trimming and pruning?
Yes. We offer crown thinning, structural pruning, deadwood removal, and clearance pruning (clearing structures, utility lines, fences). We follow ANSI A300 pruning standards — which means we don’t top trees. Topping creates long-term structural hazards and is harmful to tree health; we won’t do it and we’ll explain exactly why if asked. If you’re unsure whether your situation calls for trimming or removal, our trimming vs. removal guide walks through the decision. Call 647-558-1366 to discuss.
Can you remove trees close to structures or fences?
Yes. Tight-access removals near houses, garages, fences, and sheds are a specialty. They require rigging, sectional felling, and sometimes crane-assisted lowering — we don’t just cut and drop. We’ve worked in Annex laneways with 3 feet of clearance, dense Scarborough backyards, and Heritage District lots where every drop zone is scrutinized. Tight-access quotes are higher because the work is slower and more technical, but we don’t walk away from difficult jobs. Call 647-558-1366 and describe your access situation — we’ll tell you honestly what it involves.
Can you handle trees near buried utilities?
Yes. For trees near buried services (gas, hydro, telecom, cable), we locate services via Ontario One Call before any digging or stump grinding. For trees in contact with overhead lines, we coordinate with Toronto Hydro or Hydro One per standard utility clearance protocol. This isn’t something to improvise around: hitting a buried gas line with a stump grinder is a very bad day. We build the utility check into every job — it’s not an add-on. Call 647-558-1366 for any utility-adjacent assessment.
Comparison to Other Companies
What makes you different from other Toronto tree services?
Three things: certification, coverage, and straight answers. ISA-certified lead arborists, $5M general liability, WSIB for every crew member — the credentials you need before anyone climbs a tree on your property. Written quotes before any work starts, no hidden fees, no surprise invoice add-ons. And we answer the phone — you reach someone who knows what a tree actually costs, not a receptionist reading from a script. 15+ years in the GTA means we’ve built a reputation we’d like to keep. Call 647-558-1366 and see for yourself.
Why should I hire a certified arborist instead of a handyman?
A certified arborist assesses structural integrity, disease, root systems, and fall zones before making a single cut. A handyman with a chainsaw cuts by eye. That’s fine for a small brush pile. For a 50-foot tree 6 feet from your house, it’s not. When something goes wrong with an uncertified operator — a branch drops on a structure, the tree falls the wrong way — the property damage claim goes to your homeowner’s insurance, and your premiums go up. The ISA credential exists because tree work near structures is an actual technical discipline. Visit our tree removal service page to learn more.
Are cheaper quotes from unlicensed companies worth the risk?
Rarely. The issue isn’t the 90% of jobs that go fine — it’s the 10% where something goes wrong. A branch clips a fence, a saw kicks back, a stump grinder hits a buried cable. Unlicensed, uninsured operators leave those costs with you. Beyond the insurance gap, their work often won’t meet the City of Toronto’s arborist report standard, so you can’t use them for Chapter 813 permit compliance anyway. If you’re comparing quotes and one is dramatically lower, ask for their certificate of insurance and WSIB clearance. If they can’t produce both, that tells you what you need to know.
Do you offer discounts for seniors or hardship cases?
We don’t have a formal discount program — but we’re not a corporation with rigid pricing rules. If you’re a senior on a fixed income in Scarborough, North York, or anywhere in the GTA with a tree that genuinely needs to come down, call 647-558-1366 and let’s have an honest conversation. We’ve worked out flexible arrangements before, and we’d rather a difficult job stay in safe, certified hands than go to someone unlicensed because the price wasn’t right. Ask — the worst we can say is no.
Get Your Free Quote Today
Call: 647-558-1366 — a real arborist answers. Free site visit, written quote, no obligation. We serve Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Mississauga, Markham, and Brampton.