Tree Removal in Toronto
Sectional, rigged removals in tight city yards — with the by-law question answered before we start.
- Fully insured
- Based in Toronto’s east end
- Full cleanup, every job
- Free local estimates
Most Toronto yards have nowhere to drop a tree. There is a garage on one side, a fence on the other, and a neighbour’s garden a few metres away. So rather than felling, we climb the tree and take it apart in sections, lowering each piece on ropes to a controlled landing.
It is slower than dropping a tree in an open field, and it is the only sensible way to work in the city. It is also why access matters so much to the price — a tree we can reach from a driveway costs less to remove than one behind a locked mutual drive.
What’s included
- Full assessment of the tree and the by-law status of its trunk diameter
- Sectional dismantling with rigging over roofs, fences and gardens
- Protection of lawns, beds and hard landscaping during the work
- Wood and brush removed — or left cut to length if you burn it
- Stump cut low and flush; grinding quoted separately if you want it out
- Site raked down before we leave
Signs a tree may need to come down
Not every ugly tree is a dangerous one, and not every dangerous tree looks bad. These are the things that genuinely concern an arborist:
- Mushrooms or conks at the base. Fruiting bodies on the root flare usually mean decay inside the trunk, and that decay is further along than it looks.
- A crack or seam running vertically down the trunk. Especially where two main stems meet.
- A sudden lean, with soil lifting on the opposite side. That is root plate movement and it is urgent.
- Large dead limbs high in the crown, or a crown that leafed out thinly compared with last year.
- Hollows you can put your arm into at a main union.
If you are seeing any of these, get it looked at rather than waiting for the next windstorm. If you are seeing none of them, you may well not need a removal at all.
The permit question, answered before you book
Toronto protects private trees measuring 30 cm or more in diameter at 1.4 m above the ground. If your tree is over that line, a permit is generally required before it can come down, and the City may ask for replacement planting as a condition.
We measure the trunk at the estimate and tell you where you stand. If a permit is needed, we will talk you through the application rather than leaving you to work it out. Read the full permit guide →
Dead, dying and hazardous trees follow a different route, but the City still expects documentation — do not assume a dead tree needs no paperwork.
What drives the price
We quote each tree on its own merits, but these are the factors that move the number most:
- Size and species. Height, trunk diameter and how heavy the wood is.
- What is underneath. A tree over an open lawn is straightforward. One over a conservatory, a pond or a neighbour’s roof needs far more rigging.
- Access. Whether we can get a chipper close, or whether every piece has to be carried through a house-width gap to the street.
- Proximity to hydro lines. Work near energised conductors changes the method and sometimes requires the utility to attend.
- What happens to the wood. Hauling it away, or leaving it stacked.
We put the price in writing after seeing the tree. Anyone quoting a firm number for a large removal over the phone without looking at it is guessing.
Common questions
Will you take the stump out too?
We cut the stump low and flush as part of the removal. Grinding it out below grade is separate work with a different machine, so we quote it as an add-on — tell us if you want the area replanted or sodded and we will include it.
What happens to the wood?
By default it leaves with us. If you have a fireplace or a wood stove, say so and we will cut it to stove length and stack it instead — it costs you less and saves us the haul.
Can you remove a tree in winter?
Yes, and winter is often the best time. The tree is dormant, the ground is firm so equipment does less damage to lawns, and with the leaves gone we can see the structure clearly. Frozen ground also means less rutting in soft gardens.
My neighbour's tree is hanging over my property. What can I do?
In Ontario you generally may trim branches back to the property line, but the tree itself belongs to your neighbour and a tree whose trunk straddles a boundary is jointly owned — cutting one down without the co-owner's consent can land you in trouble. Toronto's by-law applies regardless of who owns it. Talk to us before you cut anything, and ideally talk to your neighbour first.
Ready to get it sorted?
Call for a same-week look at the tree, or send the details through and we will get back to you.