City Policy - Hiring a Private Contractor for Maintenance or Removal of a City Tree

Urban Forestry will consider allowing a private contractor to remove trees that are dead, structurally unsafe, no longer viable to maintain in a healthy and safe condition, or where it is proven that a tree is causing or likely to cause structural damage to a building or other structure.

General Standards by Urban Forestry to Perform Tree Maintenance or Removal

Urban Forestry will consider allowing a private contractor to perform work (if work is deemed necessary and approved by Urban Forestry) in accordance with the following general standards: 

  1. to encourage the health of a tree;
  2. according to proper arboricultural standards to clear tree limbs and branches interfering with structures, street lighting, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, utility conductors and traffic signals or signs;
  3. to encourage the natural form of the tree species;
  4. to remove dead limbs; and
  5. to maintain structural stability and balance of a tree.

Requirements to Perform Arboricultural Services on City Trees by Private Contractors

At your own expense, if you wish to have an Arborist from a tree service company approved by the City to perform standard maintenance on a City-owned tree adjacent to your property, Urban Forestry requires that you submit a complete application to obtain permission to allow an Arborist hired by private property owner(s) to Undertake Work on City Trees.

This option is made available if the property owner wishes to expedite a request for standard tree maintenance and avoid waiting for City Forestry crews to conduct that required tree work.

Requirements to Complete an Application

A complete application will include all information listed on the application form, including but not limited to:

  • Proof of WSIB clearance,
  • Certificate of Insurance, and
  • a legal agreement called "Agreement for Arborists Retained by Private Property Owners to Undertake Work on City Trees."

All forms must be completed in full by the property owner and the Arborist. Each tree must be identified by species and size (dbh). The work being proposed for each tree must be clearly described.

Find the application form, and other related forms and more information to submit an application available on Urban Forestry's website, under the title "Contracting an Arborist to Maintain City-Owned Street Trees."

Please Note: Service counters for Tree Protection and Plan Review at Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough Civic Centres are open. The service counters at 18 Dyas Road and Booth Yard (50 Booth Avenue) remain closed. Contact their office by email to make payment agreements. Applications and exception requests can also be submitted by mail.

If you are submitting a complete agreement by mail or fax, please send it to: 

Urban Forestry Data Management Centre

18 Dyas Road, 1st Floor

Toronto, ON M3B 1V5

Fax: (416)-392-1915