Tree Removal in North York — Done Safely, Same Day.
Dead, dangerous, or in the way? Our ISA Certified Arborists remove trees of any size — even tight backyard and near-the-house jobs — fully insured, cleaned up, and quoted before we cut.
Free Quote
Same-day assessment. No obligation, no surprise fees.
Some trees can be saved. Some need to go — safely.
A failing tree isn’t just an eyesore — it’s a liability hanging over your home, your family, and your neighbour’s property. The longer a dead or unstable tree stands, the more dangerous and expensive it becomes.
Our arborists assess every tree honestly. If pruning can save it, we’ll tell you. If it needs to come down, we remove it cleanly — including the high-risk removals near roofs, fences, and power lines that other crews turn away.
You get a clear written quote first, an insured crew on site, and a yard left spotless when we’re done.
Signs you may need removal
- Large dead branches or a bare, leafless crown
- A visible lean that’s gotten worse over time
- Cracks in the trunk or lifting roots
- Mushrooms or fungus at the base (root rot)
- Branches over the roof, driveway, or wires
- Storm damage or a partially fallen tree
Every Removal, Done to One Standard
No corner-cutting, no surprise add-ons. Here’s what comes with every removal.
- On-site arborist assessmentA certified arborist evaluates the tree, the risks, and the safest approach — free.
- Written quote before we startA clear, fixed price up front. What we quote is what you pay.
- Controlled, sectional takedownRigged and lowered in pieces near homes & wires — no dropping whole trees.
- Full insurance & WSIB$5M liability and covered crews — your property is protected start to finish.
- Complete cleanup & haul-awayBranches, debris, and logs removed — yard left tidier than we found it.
- Optional stump grindingAdd stump removal and reclaim the space — no leftover trip hazard.
Tree Removal: The Details Homeowners Ask For
Straight answers on timing, permits, access, and what it costs you.
- Typical job length
- Half a day for a mid-size backyard tree. A large oak over a roof runs one to two days with a full crew.
- How the tree comes down
- Climbed and dismantled in sections, each piece lowered on rope. A crane or a bucket truck speeds things up where the frontage allows one; tight backyards get climbed and rigged out by hand.
- Toronto permit
- Required once the trunk measures 30 cm across at 1.4 m above ground (Chapter 813). Required at any size inside a ravine (Chapter 658). A tree that is fully dead is exempt.
- What moves the price
- Height and trunk diameter, what sits underneath the tree, how far the wood has to travel to the truck, and whether the stump goes too.
- Access we need
- About a metre of gate width to carry wood out by hand, roughly three metres for machinery, and driveway space for the chipper truck.
- What is left behind
- Stump cut low and ready to grind, brush chipped and hauled, trunk wood cut to stove length if you want to keep it.
Taking down a large tree in a North York backyard
Most of the removals we do sit behind the house, inside a fence, with a garage on one side and a garden the owner has spent years on. There is no room to fell anything. The climber goes up, takes the crown apart limb by limb, and every piece comes down on a rope to a groundie who controls where it lands.
Where the driveway takes a truck, a crane or a lift turns a two-day job into a one-day job and keeps weight off the lawn. Where it does not, we lay ground protection over the turf, carry the wood out the side gate, and chip at the curb. Both routes end the same way: nothing hits the fence, and you get your yard back the same evening.
Two things stop a removal before it starts. The first is the trunk measurement, because a private tree 30 cm or wider at 1.4 m from the ground is protected by Toronto bylaw and needs a permit in hand first. The second is a hydro line running through the canopy. The line from the street to your house belongs to the utility, so we coordinate the disconnect with Toronto Hydro rather than working around a live conductor.
If the trunk grows on the property line, the tree belongs to both households. Section 10 of Ontario’s Forestry Act makes it an offence to remove a boundary tree without the other owner’s consent, so we measure where the trunk sits before we quote it.
The North York Tree Standard
The same proven four steps on every job.
Call or Request a Quote
Tell us about the tree. Emergencies answered 24/7.
Free On-Site Assessment
A certified arborist confirms the plan and gives a written price.
Safe, Insured Removal
Carried out by an equipped, fully insured crew.
Spotless Cleanup
Everything hauled away — your yard left clean and safe.
Big Trees, Tight Spaces, Zero Damage
A few recent North York jobs — handled safely and cleaned up completely.
Storm-split oak over a garage
A 60-ft oak cracked in a windstorm, hanging over the garage and car.
Dead maple beside power lines
Large dead maple leaning toward the utility line — too risky for the usual crew.
Twin spruce in a fenced yard
Two large spruce with no crane access, surrounded by fence and garden beds.
“They took down a massive dead oak two feet from our fence without a single board out of place. Quoted on the spot, showed proof of insurance, and you’d never know a crew had been here.”
Got a tree that needs to come down?
Free quote, fully insured, same-day for emergencies across North York & the GTA.
Questions Homeowners Ask Us
How much does tree removal cost in North York?
It depends on the tree’s size, location, and access — a small tree in the open costs far less than a large one over a roof or wires. That’s why we give a free, fixed written quote before any work starts.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
The City of Toronto regulates removal of larger trees by trunk diameter and trees on or near city property. During your free assessment we’ll tell you whether a permit is likely required and can guide you through it.
Can you remove a tree close to my house or power lines?
Yes — that’s exactly what certification, rigging, and the right equipment are for. We take these trees down in controlled sections so nothing lands where it shouldn’t.
Do you remove the stump too?
Stump grinding is available as an add-on to any removal. We grind it below grade so you can reclaim the space — just let us know and we’ll include it in your quote.
Are you insured if something goes wrong?
Fully. We carry $5M in liability insurance and our crews are WSIB covered, and we’re happy to show proof before we begin.
What size of tree needs a City permit before removal?
A privately owned tree with a trunk 30 cm or more across, measured 1.4 m above the ground, is protected under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 813. Trees in a ravine are protected at any size under Chapter 658, and City-owned trees are protected at any size. Removing a protected tree without a permit carries a fine of $500 to $100,000 per tree.
Can I keep the wood or take the chips?
Yes to both. We cut trunk wood to stove length and stack it if you want firewood, and chips can stay for your beds instead of going in the truck. One caution on firewood: oak wilt and other pests travel in cut wood, so burn it where it fell rather than moving it out of the city.
The tree sits right on the property line. Can I still have it removed?
Not on your own. Under section 10 of Ontario’s Forestry Act, a tree whose trunk crosses the boundary is common property of both owners, and removing it without the other owner’s consent is an offence. We can measure the trunk, tell you whose tree it actually is, and put the assessment in writing for the conversation with your neighbour.
Will the crew damage my lawn getting the wood out?
We lay ground protection where machinery has to cross turf and carry by hand where it does not. Ruts come from driving a loaded machine over soft ground, which is the part we plan around before the first cut.