Tree Removal
Tree Removal Permit Report
We prepare the arborist documentation your city requires for a tree removal application. An ISA Certified Arborist signs it, and it is ready within 2 business days of the site visit.
A tree removal permit report is a written assessment by an ISA Certified Arborist that documents tree condition, size, and species to support your permit application. Most GTA municipalities require one before approving any tree removal. We prepare the report, handle city-specific requirements, and submit it on your behalf.
Site visit within 48 hours, report within 2 business days
Consultation & Site Visit
Within 48 hours
Same-day or next-day site visit to assess your trees and discuss removal requirements with an ISA Certified Arborist.
Report Preparation
Within 2 business days
We write the report to your city's permit requirements. Digital field measurements sync directly to AutoCAD for the site plan.
Application Assistance
We help you submit
We guide you through the permit application process. If the city requests revisions, we update the report at no extra charge.
Who Needs This Report
You need this report if
- You want to remove a tree at or over your city's size limit (30 cm in Toronto, 20 cm in Vaughan and Markham, 15 cm in Mississauga)
- Your contractor has confirmed a permit is required before removal can start
- The tree is dead or hazardous but the city still requires documentation before it can come down
- A shared or road-allowance tree is involved and the city needs ownership classification before processing the application
You don't need it if
- The trunk is under your city's size limit at breast height (under 30 cm in Toronto and Brampton, 20 cm in Vaughan and Markham, 15 cm in Mississauga)
- Your property is in King, Milton or Oshawa, which have no private tree bylaw outside woodlands
- You are pruning, not removing. Toronto exempts pruning done to good arboricultural practice. Mississauga allows less than 25% of the live crown and Richmond Hill no more than 20% of live tissue in 12 months without a permit
- Trees near an active build or renovation are the issue: protecting trees during construction is a Construction Report, a separate service with its own permit process
Removing a tree without a required permit can bring a fine of up to $100,000 in Toronto, Mississauga or Brampton, and Toronto charges it per tree. The city can also order you to replant at your own cost and stop the work if removal is underway. A recorded violation can hold up later development applications on the same property.
What's Included in Your Report
Professional Tree Assessment
Evaluation by an ISA Certified Arborist covering species identification, health, structural condition and removal justification.
Condition & Location Rating
Each tree receives two separate assessments: a structural and health condition rating (Good, Fair, Poor, or Dead), and a location suitability rating evaluating the tree's growing environment. Together they form the basis for the removal recommendation.
Ownership Classification
Every relevant tree is identified as private, city/road allowance, or neighbouring. Each category follows a different permit process, and misclassifying a tree can delay or invalidate an application.
Site Plan & Photo Documentation
Accurate site plan showing tree locations plus photographic evidence supporting the assessment.
Replanting Plan
Municipal-compliant replanting specifications with species recommendations and planting locations.
Permit Application Support
The report meets your city's requirements, and we walk you through the application.
Certificate of Performance
The report closes with a formal ISA Certified Arborist sign-off certifying the assessment methodology, independence, and compliance with accepted arboricultural practice.
$200 for up to 3 trees
You pay when we deliver the report. Larger projects get a custom quote.
Serving 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.
Tree removal permits from five GTA cities
Submit with your permit application, not after
Tree Removal Permit FAQ
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Toronto or the GTA?
Yes, if the trunk is at or over your city's size limit. The limit is 30 cm in Toronto, Brampton and Caledon, 20 cm in Markham and Vaughan, and 15 cm in Mississauga and Richmond Hill. Burlington applies 20 cm inside its Urban Planning Area, excluding Halton woodland. Oakville applies 15 cm outside Halton woodland and greenlands. Pickering, Ajax and Whitby require a permit only in mapped or zoned protection areas. King, Milton and Oshawa have no private tree bylaw outside woodlands.
What is included in a tree removal permit report?
Our report includes a professional tree assessment by an ISA Certified Arborist covering species identification, health and structural condition, removal justification, a site plan, photographic documentation, and a replanting plan that meets your municipality's requirements.
How long does it take to get the report?
We deliver reports within 2 business days of the site visit, guaranteed, or the report is free. Same-day or next-day site visits are available.
Will the city accept this report?
An ISA Certified Arborist writes ours to the city's published requirements. If the city asks for changes, we make them at no extra charge.
What information do you need from me to get started?
We need your property address, the number of trees you'd like assessed, and a brief description of why you're seeking removal. Photos are helpful but not required. Our arborist will document everything during the site visit.
What if the city requests revisions to the report?
We update the report at no extra charge if the municipality asks for revisions or more information.
What are condition and location ratings?
Each tree in our report receives two independent assessments. The condition rating covers structural integrity, crown health, and overall form (rated Good, Fair, Poor, or Dead). The location rating evaluates the tree's growing environment and how suitable the site is for long-term growth. The removal recommendation rests on both ratings.
Does it matter whether it's a city tree or my neighbour's tree?
Yes, ownership matters. Private trees, trees within the city road allowance, and trees on neighbouring properties each go through different permit processes with different requirements. Our report identifies and classifies every relevant tree so the right permit is applied for.
Do you also perform tree removal?
No, reports only. Because we don't do removals, there's no financial incentive to recommend a removal. We can recommend trusted removal contractors if needed, with no referral fee.
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.
Past clients get a returning client rate.
Related Services
Construction Reports
For trees that stay standing near a build. It is a different report and a different permit from tree removal.
Learn More →Tree Protection & Fencing
On-site tree protection measures and hoarding installation for construction zones.
Learn More →Root Pruning & Excavation
Root pruning and air-spade digging near protected trees for construction and landscaping.
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.
- Report delivered in 2 business days, written to your municipality's requirements.
- We do not sell tree removal.
Serving Toronto, the GTA and Southern Ontario.
ISA Certified Arborist · ISA Member · ISA Ontario Member