Stop Work Order
Tree-Related Stop Work Order Support
Site assessment and arborist paperwork that address the tree issues identified by your municipality.
A Stop Work Order stops the activity identified in the order. An Order to Comply requires specified corrective action and does not automatically stop all construction. Send us the complete order and project documents. Once you approve our scope, we prepare the arborist paperwork within one day.
Send the complete order first
Email every page of the order, the site address, the inspector's contact details, and the relevant arborist report, permit, or tree protection plan. The wording determines what must stop and what the municipality requires next.
Do not assume an Order to Comply stops all work. Do not assume unrelated work can continue under a Stop Work Order. Follow the document and ask the issuing officer if its scope is unclear.
Who Needs This Service
This is for you if:
- You received a Stop Work Order or Order to Comply connected to trees on your site
- Trees were removed or damaged without the required permit, by you or your contractor
- Tree protection fencing was breached or went missing during construction
- A permit condition (replanting deadline, fencing spec, site restoration) was not met
- The municipality requires a professional arborist response before lifting the order
You do not need it if:
- No order has been issued. If you're trying to get ahead of requirements, a Construction Report is the right starting point.
- The Stop Work Order is unrelated to trees or vegetation.
- You need to remove a tree before starting work. That begins with a Tree Removal Report, not clearance.
How the arborist response works
Paperwork within one day from approval, followed by municipal review
Send the order
Every page and attachment
We review the wording, site address, inspector details, permits, plans, and prior arborist documents.
Assess the site
As the scope requires
We document the tree-related condition and identify corrective work tied to the municipal direction.
Approve the scope
Before any work starts
You approve the site work, paperwork, and municipal communication included in our scope.
Receive the paperwork
Within one day from approval
We prepare the agreed arborist response.
Orders we handle
Tree Protection Violations
Damaged or missing tree protection fencing, encroachment into tree protection zones, or failure to maintain required barriers during construction.
Unauthorized Tree Removal
Trees removed without the required permits. We help develop compensation and replanting plans that satisfy the municipality's requirements.
Permit Condition Non-Compliance
Failure to meet conditions attached to tree removal or construction permits, such as replanting deadlines, species requirements, or site restoration.
Root Damage During Construction
Excavation or grading that damaged roots of protected trees. We assess the damage, recommend treatment, and prepare the documentation the city requires.
What we deliver
Site Assessment & Documentation
Inspection and photo documentation of existing conditions, damage and every deficiency cited in the order.
Professional Arborist Report
An ISA Certified Arborist response addressing the tree-related items included in the approved scope.
Remediation & Replanting Plan
Corrective measures such as tree protection changes, restoration, monitoring, or replanting where the order requires them.
Municipal Liaison & Submission
Submission and tree-related follow-up with the issuing officer when included in the approved scope.
Send us the order
Include every page and attachment. Once you approve our scope, we prepare the arborist paperwork within one day.
Call (647) 479-8778Email the orderWhat It Costs
Four things set the price.
- Violation type is the biggest driver. Documenting a fencing breach takes one site visit and a short arborist letter. Unauthorized removal of multiple trees requires a full replanting plan, species specifications, and formal submission to the city.
- Each protected tree cited in the order needs individual assessment and documentation. A one-tree order is a small job. An order covering several trees or lots takes longer in proportion.
- In Toronto it is the corrective work and compensation planting named in the Order to Comply. In Markham the order can require a Tree Impact Report from a Qualified Tree Expert and replacement calculated on the Aggregate Caliper Method.
There is no published flat fee for this service. Send the complete order so we can define the required scope and cost.
Get a QuoteServing Toronto & the Greater Toronto Area
In York Region, the Regional Forest Conservation By-law covers woodlands of 1 hectare or more, and woodlots of 0.2 to 1 hectare where the town delegated them to the Region. Aurora, Newmarket and Vaughan regulate their own woodlots. In Durham Region, the Woodland By-law 30-2020 covers woodlands of 1 hectare or more. Near valleys, ravines and waterways, TRCA also reviews development.
Stop Work Order FAQ
What is a Stop Work Order?
A municipal Stop Work Order requires the work identified in the order to stop. The order states the affected area or activity and the steps required before the municipality will consider allowing that work to resume.
What is an Order to Comply?
An Order to Comply directs specific corrective action by a stated deadline. It does not stop all construction on its own. Send it to us and we tell you which work, if any, must stop.
How quickly can you respond?
Send us every page of the order, the site address, the inspector's contact details, and the relevant permit or arborist documents. Once you approve our scope, we prepare the arborist paperwork within one day.
What does the clearance process involve?
We review the order, assess the tree-related site conditions, identify the required corrective work, and prepare the agreed arborist response. The municipality reviews the submission and decides whether the order can be cleared.
Can you deal directly with the city on my behalf?
Yes, when municipal communication is part of the approved scope. We can submit the arborist response and answer tree-related questions.
What if trees were damaged or removed without a permit?
We assess the damage, document the current condition in an arborist report, draft a replanting and compensation plan, and take it to the municipality.
How much does it cost?
We quote each order on the complexity of the issue, the number of trees and the municipality's requirements. Send us the order for a quote.
What municipalities do you serve?
We serve the entire Greater Toronto Area including Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Brampton, Burlington, Hamilton, Pickering, Caledon, King, Durham Region, and York Region.
Contact us or call (647) 479-8778 with any other question.
Related Services
Root Pruning & Excavation
Root pruning and air-spade digging inside the tree protection zone.
Learn More →Construction Reports
Tree preservation plans for construction projects, prepared before work starts.
Learn More →Get a quote
Tell us about your property. An ISA Certified Arborist will reply with a firm quote.
- Free consultation, response within 24 hours.
- Arborist paperwork is prepared within one day from approval.
- We do not sell tree removal.
Serving Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario.
ISA Certified Arborist · ISA Member · ISA Ontario Member