Do I need a permit or just an arborist report?

Both, in most cases. The arborist report is what you submit with your permit application. The report supports the permit; you cannot get the permit without it. Some municipalities also require a permit to begin root pruning or tree protection work near a regulated tree, so check your local bylaw before booking either service.

What is the difference between an arborist report and a site inspection?

An arborist report is a written document prepared before work begins. It is submitted to the municipality as part of your permit application. A site inspection is an on-site visit during or after construction to verify that tree protection conditions are being met. Most construction projects require both: the report first, then inspections at key milestones.

Which report do I need for a renovation near a tree?

A construction arborist report. It includes a tree inventory, a root and canopy impact assessment, and a tree protection plan that your contractor must follow. This report is required for building permit applications whenever work occurs within the drip line or root protection zone of a regulated tree.

Can I use a tree removal report for a construction project?

No. A tree removal report addresses a single regulated tree and supports a removal permit only. A construction arborist report covers all trees affected by a development site, specifies which trees will be retained and how they will be protected, and satisfies building permit requirements. The two documents have different scopes and different audiences within the municipality.

Is a risk assessment the same as a tree removal report?

No. A risk assessment evaluates a tree's structural condition and the likelihood of failure. It is used when a property owner, insurer, or municipality needs a written opinion on whether a tree poses a hazard. A tree removal report supports a permit application to remove a regulated tree. A risk assessment can sometimes be part of the justification for removal, but the two documents serve different purposes.

When do I need a nest clearance survey?

When clearing vegetation, pruning, or removing trees during the migratory bird nesting season (roughly April through August in Ontario). Federal migratory bird legislation prohibits disturbing active nests, so a pre-clearance survey by a qualified professional is required before work begins. The survey results in a written clearance confirming no active nests were found, or identifies nest locations and timing restrictions.

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Which Arborist Report Do I Need?

Different situations call for different documents. This guide maps common scenarios to the correct service so you can start the right process the first time.

Situation Lookup

Removing a specific private tree: Tree Removal Report. Required before a removal permit application. Covers up to three trees per report.
Building or developing near trees: Construction Arborist Report. Full tree inventory plus a tree protection plan submitted with your building permit application.
Stop-work order or contravention: Stop Work Order Clearance. A site inspection plus a written report documenting current tree condition and any remedial work completed. Required to lift the city's order.
Root work or excavation near a protected tree: Root Pruning and Excavation. Pre-work root assessment and, where required by permit conditions, supervised root pruning with arborist sign-off.
Clearing vegetation during nesting season: Nest Clearance Survey. Required before any tree removal, pruning, or vegetation clearing from April through August. Produces a written clearance or flags active nest locations.
Hazardous or declining tree: Tree Risk Assessment. A structural condition evaluation used by property owners, insurers, and municipalities to document failure risk. Can support a removal application when the tree poses a hazard.
Large site or development with many trees: Tree Inventory. Site-wide tagging and condition assessment of all regulated trees, typically scoped before a planning application or site plan approval process begins.
Butternut identified on site: Butternut Health Assessment. Provincially mandated under the Endangered Species Act. Required before any impact to a butternut tree; determines whether the tree qualifies for an injury or destruction permit.

Report Types Compared

Report Type	What Triggers It	What It Produces
Tree Removal Report	Application to remove a regulated tree on private property	ISA-standard written report with tree ID, condition rating, site plan, and replanting recommendation; submitted to the municipality
Construction Arborist Report	Building permit or development application near trees	Full site tree inventory, root protection zone calculations, protection plan with fencing specs, and monitoring schedule for the construction period
Site Inspection	Permit condition requiring arborist sign-off at construction milestones	Written inspection certificate confirming protection measures are in place; may trigger a compliance letter if conditions are not met
Risk Assessment	Concern about a tree's structural condition or failure potential	ISA Risk Assessment form rating likelihood of failure and consequence; used by insurers, property owners, and cities to document hazard status

Not sure whether your project needs one of these or a combination? See Report vs. Inspection for a deeper comparison of those two documents specifically.

A Few Common Combinations

Some projects require more than one document. The most frequent pairings:

Home addition or renovation near a backyard tree

A construction arborist report for the building permit, followed by site inspections at intervals specified in your permit conditions. If the tree is ultimately removed to accommodate the build, the removal is covered under the same construction report rather than a separate tree removal report.

Vegetation clearing in spring or summer

A nest clearance survey before any work begins, and a tree removal report for each regulated tree that will come down. Both are needed independently.

Hazardous tree on a development site with a butternut present

A risk assessment for the hazardous tree, a butternut health assessment for any butternut on site, and potentially a full inventory if the site plan application requires one. The butternut assessment must be completed before any work that could impact the tree.

Describe your project and we will confirm what you need

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit or just an arborist report?: Both, in most cases. The arborist report is what you submit with your permit application. The report supports the permit; you cannot get the permit without it. Some municipalities also require a permit to begin root pruning or tree protection work near a regulated tree, so check your local bylaw before booking either service.
What is the difference between an arborist report and a site inspection?: An arborist report is a written document prepared before work begins. It is submitted to the municipality as part of your permit application. A site inspection is an on-site visit during or after construction to verify that tree protection conditions are being met. Most construction projects require both: the report first, then inspections at key milestones.
Which report do I need for a renovation near a tree?: A construction arborist report. It includes a tree inventory, a root and canopy impact assessment, and a tree protection plan that your contractor must follow. This report is required for building permit applications whenever work occurs within the drip line or root protection zone of a regulated tree.
Can I use a tree removal report for a construction project?: No. A tree removal report addresses a single regulated tree and supports a removal permit only. A construction arborist report covers all trees affected by a development site, specifies which trees will be retained and how they will be protected, and satisfies building permit requirements. The two documents have different scopes and different audiences within the municipality.
Is a risk assessment the same as a tree removal report?: No. A risk assessment evaluates a tree's structural condition and the likelihood of failure. It is used when a property owner, insurer, or municipality needs a written opinion on whether a tree poses a hazard. A tree removal report supports a permit application to remove a regulated tree. A risk assessment can sometimes be part of the justification for removal, but the two documents serve different purposes.
When do I need a nest clearance survey?: When clearing vegetation, pruning, or removing trees during the migratory bird nesting season (roughly April through August in Ontario). Federal migratory bird legislation prohibits disturbing active nests, so a pre-clearance survey by a qualified professional is required before work begins. The survey results in a written clearance confirming no active nests were found, or identifies nest locations and timing restrictions.

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