Tree Inventory Services

Each tree is recorded by species, diameter at breast height (DBH), estimated height, crown spread, overall condition rating, structural defects noted, maintenance needs, and GPS location. Depending on your requirements, we can also include a tree tag number, recommended maintenance priority (routine, soon, urgent), and an estimated timeline for required work. The final deliverable is a report with a summary table and, optionally, a site map or GIS data export.

Tree inventories are most commonly requested by property managers and condo boards who need to plan and budget annual tree maintenance, developers conducting due diligence before acquiring or developing a site, municipalities managing parks or public trees, commercial property owners preparing for large-scale maintenance or capital planning, and HOAs with shared green space responsibilities. If you manage more than a handful of trees, an inventory gives you a clear picture of what you have and what it needs.

Cost is driven by the number of trees being surveyed and the total site area. Site accessibility and terrain affect how long the field survey takes. Data format requirements add time when your property management system needs a custom export or GIS-compatible file. Inventories supporting a development permit application require additional documentation and cross-referencing with municipal bylaw thresholds. We provide a firm quote before any work begins. Turnaround timing and any expedited options are confirmed at the same stage.

A tree inventory is primarily a survey and documentation exercise. It records what trees exist on a property and their general condition. A tree risk assessment focuses specifically on quantifying the probability and consequence of tree failure for individual trees that present a potential hazard. These services are complementary: an inventory will often flag trees that warrant a formal risk assessment, and the two are sometimes done together when a property has both a documentation need and specific hazard concerns.

The standard deliverable is a written report with a summary table listing each tree. We can also provide the data as a spreadsheet (Excel or CSV) for import into your maintenance management system, a site plan with tree locations plotted, or a GIS-compatible data file if you have mapping software in place. If you need a specific format for your system, let us know before the survey and we will accommodate it.

For most managed properties, updating the inventory every 3–5 years captures meaningful changes in tree condition without excessive cost. Properties with rapid construction activity, recent storm damage, or a large number of mature trees may benefit from more frequent updates. A good practice is to update the inventory after any significant event (storm, major construction, or large-scale tree work) and then return to a regular cycle. We can also add individual tree assessments to an existing inventory on an as-needed basis between full surveys.