Permits and regulations in Toronto

Before having a tree removed or trimmed in Toronto, three questions come up almost every time: do I need a permit from my municipality, who deals with trees near the hydro lines, and will my home insurance cover storm damage. This page answers them in the general terms that apply across Ontario.

One important point: tree regulation is municipal. It differs from one city to the next and it is revised regularly. So we do not reproduce any threshold, fee or processing time here: the only up-to-date source is your municipality, and that is where we send you.

Tree removal permits

In Ontario, removing a tree on private property is governed by the by-law of the municipality. In many cases a permit has to be obtained before work starts. The City of Toronto requires a permit for many private tree removals, and the application normally has to be supported by an arborist report describing the condition of the tree and the reason for removal. Whether your own tree falls under the by-law depends on its size, its species and where it stands: check with the City.

The other municipalities we serve each have their own by-law. Some require a permit for any removal, others only past a certain size or in certain areas. Check with your municipality before planning the work.

Trimming and pruning are generally not subject to the same requirements as removal, but there again the rule is municipal.

• We assess whether your project is likely to need a permit, and tell you what to apply for.
• We prepare the arborist report when the application calls for one.
• The application is made by the property owner: the permit is issued in their name.
• We do not start a removal that requires a permit until the permit has been granted.

Trees and hydro lines: who does what

This is the most useful distinction on the page, because it decides who pays.

The public network. We never work on the medium- or high-voltage network of Toronto Hydro and Hydro One. The utility maintains the vegetation around its own distribution network; that clearing is its responsibility, not a private arborist's. If a tree is growing into those conditions near your property, report it to the utility.

Your service entrance. The wire running from the pole to your house, and the trees around it, are the property owner's responsibility. That is where we work, respecting approach distances. Work in the immediate vicinity of a service entrance is planned with the utility beforehand.

In every case: if a branch is touching a wire, or a tree has come down on one, do not touch it and do not attempt anything yourself. Call the utility.

Home insurance after a storm or an ice storm

A tree brought down by a windstorm, a limb broken under the weight of ice, damage to a roof or a fence: these situations are frequently covered by home insurance. Coverage, deductibles and exclusions vary from one policy to another, however, and the decision rests with your insurer.

So we promise no payout and we do not stand in for your insurer. What we do instead genuinely helps a claim:

• photographs of the tree and the damage before any work;
• a written description of the condition of the tree and the apparent cause of the loss;
• an itemized invoice separating the emergency call-out, the dismantling, the stump grinding and the cleanup.

One practical piece of advice: contact your insurer before having anything removed, unless the situation is an immediate danger.

Insurance and workplace coverage

Two different things are often confused. Liability insurance covers damage caused to your property during the work. WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) is the Ontario scheme that covers a worker injured on your property, so that the cost does not fall back on you as the homeowner.

Ask any company you consider for both, in writing, before work starts. We provide ours on request.

Municipal planting and subsidy programs

Several municipalities support the tree canopy on their territory: trees given or sold to residents at reduced cost, planting programs, financial support to replace a tree that has been removed. Whether these programs exist, who qualifies, when you can register and what amounts are involved all vary from one municipality to another and are reviewed from year to year.

So we deliberately publish no list and no amount, which would be out of date before it was read. Ask your municipality, usually the parks, forestry or planning department, what is on offer this year.

If you have a tree removed and want to replace it, tell us: we take the planned planting into account in how we work the ground.

Emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle that attacks ash trees and eventually kills them. It is well established across Southern Ontario and it has concrete regulatory consequences for property owners.

• Municipalities may regulate the removal of ash trees and the time of year when it can be done.
• Moving and disposing of ash wood is subject to rules intended to limit the spread of the insect.
• Some municipalities offer support for treating or removing infested ash trees.

Here again the rules and the programs depend on your municipality: that is where to check before doing anything to an ash. We carry out the removal and the disposal of ash wood in line with the rules that apply on the territory concerned.

What is ours, what is yours

• You: the permit application to the municipality, the claim to your insurer, checking which municipal programs are offered.
• Us: assessing the tree, telling you what steps to expect, preparing the arborist report where one is required, carrying out the work, documenting it (photographs, description, itemized invoice) and respecting the rules on wood disposal.
• Toronto Hydro: the vegetation around its own infrastructure, at its own cost.