Common questions about arborist reports

Yes, if a city bylaw protects a tree on your property, if you are filing a building permit application, or if a protected tree sits on or next to your site. We confirm this in a short desk review before you commit to anything.

A tree inspection is a professional opinion on health or structure with no formal deliverable. An arborist report is a written document formatted to meet a municipality's submission standards. For permit purposes, you need a report. See our report vs. inspection guide for the full breakdown.

We cover the GTA, Durham Region, and Halton Region. That includes Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, King Township, Caledon, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, and Pickering, plus surrounding municipalities in York and Durham. See our service areas page for the full list.

Yes. We do not perform removals or landscaping. Our recommendation carries no conflict of interest. See our independent arborist page for more.

Every report is prepared and signed by Sergiy Litvinov, ISA Certified Arborist #ON-2281A. See our credentials page for details.

The current tree removal report offer starts from $200 for up to three trees. Construction reports start from $550, and we confirm the exact price before work begins. See our arborist report cost guide for a full breakdown.

The base price includes a site visit, tree inventory, a city-format report, and submission support.

Revisions within the same scope are included. If the scope of work changes, we quote separately.

E-transfer, credit card, or invoice for corporate clients. We take a 50% deposit on commissioning, with the balance due on delivery.

Yes, for multi-phase development work. We use milestone billing tied to deliverables.

Each city sets its own formula. In Toronto, Chapter 813 sets no fixed ratio. Urban Forestry sets the number in each permit, and cash-in-lieu is $583 per required tree. Mississauga uses 1 per 15 cm. Burlington asks for 2 replacement trees for a 20 to 35 cm tree, 3 for 36 to 74 cm and 4 for 75 cm and up. Unauthorized removals carry higher ratios, such as 5 trees for each tree removed without authorization in Toronto. We confirm the exact requirement for your address before you apply.

No. We are a reports-only firm. We have no financial stake in whether a tree comes down, which means the city can trust the assessment. See our independent arborist page for more.

We deliver the report within 2 business days of the site visit, or the report is free. We confirm the site-visit date when we quote.

No single rule. Toronto exempts a 100 percent dead tree once the City confirms it in writing before removal. Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington still need an application but waive the fee. Pickering waives the fee when a certified arborist report comes with the application. Caledon and East Gwillimbury need no permit for a dead tree. Brampton exempts only hazardous trees, so a stable dead tree still needs a permit. Markham, Richmond Hill and Newmarket keep the permit with a lighter documentation path.

No, the city makes the approval decision. We write every report to its current requirements. When city comments require revisions within the original scope, we handle them at no extra charge.

The minimum distance from the trunk within which construction activity is restricted to prevent root damage. Each municipality sets the radius by a trunk-diameter lookup table, and Toronto's ravine areas and Vaughan's naturalized areas use the drip line instead when it is larger than the table value. Species and condition don't change the radius, but they shape how protection is designed within it.

If protected trees will remain on or near the site, yes. A tree protection plan is a distinct document from a removal report.

Scheduled site visits during earthworks, trenching, and finishing to confirm tree protection measures are in place. Markham, for example, makes arborist supervision and hand excavation mandatory for any encroachment into the minimum tree protection zone.

Yes, if the city issues a permit to injure or remove the tree, or if the design stays outside its tree protection zone. We assess this early so you do not redesign twice.

Homebuilders, additions, pool and deck projects, garden suites, and any excavation within the root zone of a protected tree. Properties inside conservation authority lands (TRCA, LSRCA, Conservation Halton) or Toronto RNFP areas have extra requirements. A Toronto RNFP application includes an arborist report, and conservation authorities can request technical studies for development activity.

Markham reviews applications within 45 days of payment.

Toronto's by-law sets fines from $500 to $100,000 per tree. Brampton adds up to $10,000 per day for a continuing offence. Replanting or cash-in-lieu costs are added on top.

A tree whose trunk crosses the lot line belongs to both owners, and both must consent to any work. If the trunk location is unclear, a surveyor confirms it before work starts.

Private bylaws cover trees on your property. Public bylaws cover street and park trees. Every city regulates its street and park trees. Private trees need a separate permit where the city has a private tree bylaw. King, Milton and Oshawa have none.

Yes, when the pruning counts as injury to a protected tree. Toronto defines injury as any act that harms a tree's health in any manner, and other cities count significant crown reduction or work inside the tree protection zone.

Book a site visit through our contact form or call us. We confirm scope and provide a quote before you commission anything.

Your address, a rough description of what you are proposing, and any city correspondence you have already received.

Yes. Most clients have us submit directly on their behalf.

We respond. That is included in the base fee unless the comments reflect a change in scope.

Yes. A signed PDF is the default. Printed copies are available on request.