Large Tree Removal Made Easy

For a tree over 30cm diameter at breast height, the cost for having us remove it will be over $1000 + taxes and the municipal permit fees required.

When we provide quotes for large tree removal, we include the cost for an arborist report and the permit fees for the city and manage the application for you. We also include the costs for doing the job and disposing of the wood. A full clean up is always included in our pricing.

Very large or very hazardous trees are going to be significantly more than the minimum cost above. Smaller to medium size trees that require a permit will be in the range of 00 – 00. Read about the cost of removing trees that don’t need a permit.

We have a great guide on how to know when you need a tree permit, or you can read more about the cost of city of toronto tree permits and arborist reports.

The bigger and “badder” the tree, the greater the cost, generally speaking. Arboriculture is an exceptionally dangerous industry with one of the highest rates of critical injury and death in North America – surpassing that of police, fire and construction. Prices for big or dangerous trees reflect this reality.

Trees are considered “unrated structures”. Unlike buildings, no engineer can tell you what load a branch or tree can take. They’re living things, not steel, so this makes sense.

When an arborist climbs into a tree or works on it from a bucket truck, they’re using a combination of science, practical experience and formal training to make judgements about how to manage the tree and their own safety. Cutting into a tree that has fallen over can release a huge amount of energy and cause it to roll, shift or snap back and hit you. An unbalanced load rigged from a tree or picked up by a crane, such as a section that was heavier than anticipated can cause serious problems.

Professional companies invest in employees by offering formal training through colleges like Humber, on the job training from journeypersons to apprentices and ongoing skill development through external trainers on topics like advanced rigging and aerial rescue. This investment is a protection for employees, but for clients as well. The costs of training and insurance in an industry with this level of risk are very high but they are well worth it when compared with the alternative.

Hazard costs are one of the reasons storm damage is more expensive to “clean up” than regular tree work. It involves a heightened level of risk for the whole crew, as well as an element of speedy response.

When a large tree is hard to access, one of two options exist. Option one: Use big equipment to lift it in large sections over obstacles. Option 2: cut it into much smaller pieces and get them to an accessible point. The first option involves expensive, specialized equipment but can often get the job done faster. The second option doesn’t involve expensive equipment but is much more time consuming. Sometimes either option is a possibility, sometimes only one option is either due to restricted access or hazards present in the tree or site.

The biggest influencing factor for which you can choose if either option is potentially viable will still come down to access. Cranes take up a lot of space. The require open areas free from obstruction by communication or powerlines – or at least enough space to move around them. Lastly, they may require permits to close the street which are very costly.

The bigger the tree being removed, the more likely that equipment like a crane will be useful to do it cost effectively

Unlike with small tree removal, tree pruning or hedge trimming, large trees can’t come down quickly because they need permits and permits require reports. After an arborist report for tree removal is written up, it is sent along with an application to the municipality where it is reviewed. When the permit is approved, a payment is scheduled and processed, and then the physical permit is issued a few days later.

This process takes 3-6 weeks on average, with some permits approved and issued in as little as two and other situations taking much longer. If you already have a permit, it is just a matter of scheduling.

Aside from the time it takes to apply for and receive a permit, your tree removal will take an average of 1-3 days depending on how large and difficult it is. Most removals we complete are done in 1-2 days, larger projects have been 3-6 days on average where there were multiple trees or significant dangers.

We don’t offer discounts for leaving wood on site, and we won’t quote a job without cleanup (with a few exceptions, farms / estates). Leaving wood on site is not much faster or easier for us than removing it. When we remove a tree, it creates a huge mess that can take many hours to clean up. Leaving wood on site for use in a personal fireplace is certainly something ew can do, but leaving a large amount of wood is impractical.

Wood takes a lot of time, energy, skill and equipment to break up safely and properly. Cutting it into small enough pieces for home use and stacking takes even longer and makes an even bigger mess, as every large piece must be cut again and again to make it smaller. This generates saw dust, expends fuel and chainsaw chains, and takes a long time to do. While the disposal cost may be “saved” the true cost of providing this service is likely to be similar, meaning we can’t offer discounts for it.

As for just cutting the tree and not cleaning up at all, very few homeowners are prepared for how large trees are when they are on the ground and how heavy and difficult brush and wood is to manage. We can’t provide quotes for skipping clean up as a professional company – in an urban context this is just not a good idea, and not something we are comfortable doing.

Most frequently in Toronto, your wood is going to be turned over to be processed for firewood or it will go to a dump site where major disposal companies grind it into the mulch you’ll buy for your garden a few years later.

Sometimes it will be processed for reclamation into lumber or live edge pieces, but this is quite rare. The issue is that urban trees have many defects and foreign bodies embedded in them – fungus, old mails from 100+ years ago and other issues make it not so ideal for repurposing. It does happen, but less often than you’d think.

Small waste and garbage bin companies will often dispose of wood as subcontractors, as well as big disposal companies are involved in the process.

The cost for dumping wood is very high, roughly $120 – $200 a ton. A medium to medium-large oak tree could be 24,000 – 40,000 lbs, or 12-20 tons. Worst case scenario, it goes to a regular garbage dump where it is buried along with other waste and becomes contaminated.

How to Save Money on Tree Removal

Sometimes a big tree is extremely hazardous and the city issues an exemption that allows it to be cut down without going through the permit process. This can save the cost of the permit, planting and/or payment in lieu.

However, when an exception is made, the owner has a very short period of time (often only 72 hours) to remove the tree following the issuance of the exemption. Since this is a very short timeline to work on and is very hazardous work, the removal costs will likely be higher.

You should always get quotes in advance of applying for an exemption, especially in the busy season. It may require other work to be cancelled, for which you’re more likely to pay a premium cost.

1. One of the biggest ways to reduce your potential costs is to deal with your trees proactively, and find a company willing to work with you to manage and mitigate risk over time. We have a lot more advice on how to reduce your short term and long term costs as a property owner, and steps you can take. At the end of the day, hazard trees are bad for you because of cost and us because of risk.
2. Get the work done in the slow season, winter.

Another factor that influences cost that homeowners are often unaware of is the volume of property that could be damaged. A stone staircase may be an obstacle in terms of accessing the tree, but it may be unlikely to be damaged. An underground sprinkler system under the tree, a shed – all of these are “targets”, and have to be worked around which complicates the job of removal.

Anything that is easy to break or damage that can’t be moved is an obstacle to work as well as at potential risk for damage. Professional tree care companies work with heavy pieces of wood over structures and objects all the time, but accidents can happen. When there are more things in the way of the job – especially if they are valuable – the potential risk to the company for insurance costs increases.

Sprinkler systems can’t be moved, greenhouses, sheds, pools, fences – the list goes on. When a company comes on site their general liability insurance will cover accidents and damage from any work undertaken by their employees. The more there is to damage, the more time they will likely take in preparing the site, doing the job and being mindful of your property. This increases the cost directly through more hours of work, and indirectly through the potential insurance risk in case of an accident.

The city charges approximately $138 in 2024 for a single tree removal application, double that if it is a “shared tree” with a neighbour or an application for removal associated with construction. It costs approximately $395 to apply to remove a city tree. Construction trees cost more, and pricing is available on our tree permit cost page.

The city also charges $585 for a payment in lieu if another tree is not planted in replacement. The exact species, size and placement of the tree are dependent on the city, not the homeowner.

Likely, no. I know this is likely not the answer you want to hear, and you may be able to find another random website that will tell you otherwise. We are going to give you a few tips to help, but its with the caveat that it may not work. We spend a lot of time dealing with the city, and want you to be prepared too. You can read more about it here

If you receive a City compliance order to remove your tree, the best thing to do is immediately get a few different quotes for the service. Since these orders usually have deadlines, getting a few quotes as quickly as possible will give you more wiggle room with regards to pricing and schedule. If you do not comply with a city order, you may face further fines. Alternatively, the city may come and do the work itself and charge you for it. This usually results in significant bills. The more time you have to schedule the work, the better the rate you’ll be able to negotiate.

City Compliance order trees are generally more expensive than regular tree removals, as the city only compels owners to remove trees when they have become a significant hazard. This means greater likelihood of injury or death for crews, a more difficult job, more likelihood of something going wrong and so forth.

Neighbour problems come up a lot in tree work. Sometimes the issue is that the tree is shared between neighbours and at least one neighbour wants to split the expense. Sometimes the issue is around access for workers, or loss of a treasured tree. Whatever the problem, removing big trees is an exercise not only in skilled labour but also project management. The more complex the issue surrounding the neighbour, the more likely it is to have a direct impact on the project.

If a neighbour is not willing to split costs this will increase your overall cost. If a neighbour restricts access to workers, this may mean having to use expensive equipment like a crane to reach the tree when a simpler solution would’ve otherwise been fine.

Being proactive in advance is the best way to deal with neighbour problems around tree care and maintenance, whether it is a big tree removal or any other tree care service. This is especially true if it is a neighbour tree you’re worried about.