Common questions about arborist reports

Often, yes. Three common triggers: a city bylaw applies to a protected tree on your property, you are filing a building permit application, or a protected tree sits on or adjacent to your site. An arborist can confirm 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 report goes wherever the tree work goes, without any conflict of interest in the recommendation. See our independent arborist page for more on why that matters.

ISA Certified Arborist, TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification), and ASCA where applicable. See our credentials page for details.

Single-tree removal reports start from $250 for straightforward cases. Multi-tree and construction reports scale with scope. 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.

Minor 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.

The formulas vary by city, by purpose, and sometimes by tree size. Toronto distinguishes between condition removals (1 replacement per 10 cm DBH, cash-in-lieu at $583 per tree) and construction removals (3 replacements per tree). Oakville uses 1 per 10 cm regardless. Mississauga uses 1 per 15 cm. Burlington recently updated its by-law and now follows a similar diameter-based ratio. Other cities have their own schedules, and construction applications almost always carry higher ratios than standard removals. We confirm the exact requirement for your address before you apply.

No. We are a reports-only firm. That is the point. 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.

Typically 3 to 10 business days, depending on city workload and site complexity.

Most GTA cities exempt dead, dying, or immediately hazardous trees from permit fees. In many cases you still need to notify the city and provide a short arborist confirmation before removal. Rules vary by municipality, so confirm with us before scheduling a crew.

Yes. We use each city's own format and address bylaw criteria directly. When revision requests arise from city comments, 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 some cities use the larger of the table value or the crown spread. 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. Many cities require monitoring for protected trees within the construction zone.

Sometimes. It depends on the tree, the city, and the design. 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 typically trigger a construction arborist report even for minor work.

Based on our recent submissions, typically 2 to 6 weeks across the GTA, with Toronto and Richmond Hill at the longer end. Construction permits and properties in special zones can take longer.

Fines can reach the tens of thousands per tree across the GTA, with Toronto's by-law carrying penalties up to $100,000 on conviction. Replanting or cash-in-lieu costs are added on top.

Shared property. Both owners must consent to any work. A surveyor may be required to confirm the trunk location before work proceeds.

Private bylaws cover trees on your property. Public bylaws cover street and park trees. Both are usually regulated, but under separate permit processes.

Usually, yes, for protected trees. Most cities treat significant crown reduction, any cut to roots larger than 5 cm, or any work inside the tree protection zone as an injury requiring a permit. Exact thresholds vary by municipality, so check before making cuts.

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.