Tree Risk Assessments
Formal risk evaluations by an ISA Certified Arborist, with written findings prepared for insurers, legal counsel, and municipalities.
A tree risk assessment is a signed report from an ISA Certified Arborist that rates a tree's risk as low, moderate, high or extreme by the ISA TRAQ method. Insurers, lawyers and municipalities ask for it when they need a formal record of a tree's safety.
What a Tree Risk Assessment Covers
Structural Assessment
Visual and physical examination of the trunk, root zone, branch attachments, and crown for defects including decay, cracks, included bark, and root damage.
Failure Potential Rating
Evaluation of how likely the tree or a part of it is to fail, rated on the ISA scale from negligible to imminent, accounting for species characteristics and observed defects.
Consequence Assessment
Identification of the target zone: what or who would be struck if the tree failed, and rating of the potential consequences from negligible to catastrophic.
Overall Risk Rating
A final rating of low, moderate, high, or extreme using the ISA TRAQ matrix, combining failure potential, impact likelihood, and consequences into one rating.
Written Report with Photos
A signed report from an ISA Certified Arborist, including photographs, defect documentation, risk ratings, and mitigation recommendations.
Recommendations
Specific mitigation options for each identified risk, which may include pruning, cabling, monitoring intervals, or removal, with a recommended timeline for each action.
Request an Assessment
Written report delivered within 2 business days of the site visit and prepared for review by insurers or legal counsel.
Service Area
Toronto & GTA
All GTA municipalities served
How It Works
Contact Us
Same-day response
Tell us about the tree and why you need the assessment. We will confirm scope, discuss any deadlines, and schedule the site visit.
Site Visit
1 to 2 hours on site
Our ISA Certified Arborist visits the property, assesses the tree using a structured risk method, photographs all relevant features, and identifies the target zone.
Report Delivered
Within 2 business days
You receive a signed written report with photographs, risk ratings, defect documentation, and specific mitigation recommendations, ready for your insurer or legal team.
Who Needs a Tree Risk Assessment
Homeowners with Insurance Claims
When a storm damages a tree and your insurer requires professional documentation before paying out a claim, or when they ask for a formal risk evaluation before renewing your policy.
Legal Disputes
Neighbour disputes over a tree near a property line, litigation involving tree failure and alleged negligence, or any situation where legal counsel requires an independent, defensible opinion.
Property Due Diligence
Pre-purchase inspections for properties with large or mature trees, estate planning, or any transaction where documented tree risk is a factor in valuation or liability.
Storm Damage Assessment
After a storm when one or more trees are damaged and you need to know whether they are safe to remain, need emergency work, or should be removed before they cause further damage.
When you don't need one
- General health advice on a tree, with no insurer or legal requirement. A standard arborist inspection covers this faster and at lower cost.
- A permit to remove a tree from your property. That requires a Tree Removal Report, which is a different document with a different purpose.
- Construction near trees on a development site. That calls for a Construction Report (tree protection plan).
What it Costs
There is no fixed price because scope varies. The main factors that affect the fee:
Number and size of trees
A single mature tree is quicker to assess than a property with five large specimens. Each tree is evaluated individually and documented in the report.
Site access and complexity
Trees on tight urban lots, steep grades, or with obstructed root zones take longer to assess properly. Assessments requiring a climber or aerial lift add to the cost.
Intended use of the report
Reports for legal proceedings or expert testimony add documentation, photographs or a supplementary signed declaration beyond the standard report.
Get a quote for your situation
Describe the tree, why you need the assessment, and your deadline. We'll give you a clear fee before scheduling the visit.
Serving Toronto & the Greater Toronto Area
Send us the insurer's or lawyer's request
Tree Risk Assessment FAQ
What is a tree risk assessment?
A tree risk assessment is a structured evaluation of a tree's likelihood of failure and the potential consequences if it does fail. It follows the ISA's Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) methodology and produces a written report rating overall risk as low, moderate, high, or extreme. The report documents the tree's structural condition, defects identified, the target zone (what or who would be struck if the tree failed), and specific recommendations for mitigation.
When do you need a tree risk assessment?
You need one when an insurer asks for a formal evaluation before it renews coverage or pays a claim, when a neighbour or a lawyer needs independent documentation in a dispute, or when a storm leaves you unsure a tree is stable. Buyers order one before purchasing a home with large trees, and owners order one for estate planning or property due diligence. A municipality can also ask for one before it issues a removal permit for a tree with no obvious decline.
How does a tree risk assessment differ from a general inspection?
A general arborist inspection assesses tree health and condition in broad terms. A tree risk assessment specifically evaluates the probability of failure, the probability of impact on a target, and the consequences of that impact, then combines these into an overall risk rating. The resulting written findings give an insurer, lawyer, or municipality a structured record to review.
How is risk rated in the report?
The ISA TRAQ framework rates risk as low, moderate, high, or extreme, based on three factors evaluated independently and then combined: likelihood of failure (structural condition, defects, root issues), likelihood of impact (whether a target is present and how often), and consequences of failure (what would be struck and how serious the outcome would be). Each factor is scored and the scores are combined into the final risk rating using the ISA matrix.
How long does a tree risk assessment take?
A residential assessment of one to three trees takes 1 to 2 hours on site. The written report arrives within 2 business days of the visit.
Do I need a risk assessment or a tree removal report?
A tree removal report (arborist report) supports a municipal permit application and documents why a tree qualifies for removal. A tree risk assessment quantifies the probability and consequences of failure using the ISA TRAQ methodology, producing a report intended for insurers, lawyers, or courts. Most standard permit applications need a removal report, not a risk assessment. Markham requires a TRAQ risk report for a high-risk expedited removal application, and a city can ask for one when a permit is contested or the tree shows signs of structural failure.
Contact us or call (647) 479-8778 with any other question.
Related Services
Tree Removal Reports
Municipal-ready arborist reports for tree removal permits across the GTA.
Learn More →Arborist Site Inspections
Periodic on-site visits to verify tree protection compliance during construction.
Learn More →Construction Reports
Tree preservation and protection plans for construction and development projects.
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