ArborProof

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Burlington, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Burlington

The three highest-scoring tree companies that serve Burlington, ranked by ARB Score. Every company in Ontario is checked the same way, on insurance coverage, arborist credentials, experience and reviews. No company can pay to be at the top of this page.

45companies serve Burlington
21with WSIB clearance confirmed
5.4average ARB Score here

Burlington’s top 3 by ARB Score

1

Arborwood Tree Service

Serves Burlington, Hamilton, Oakville and Grimsby

4.9 · 506 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing
SpecializationsHighlighted: what they specialize in (up to 6)
Call 905-957-5663Visit websiteFull profile →
17.5ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences506 Google reviews
5
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience25+ years in business
6
Education & training3 ISA Certified Arborists
4.5
Local & independentFounded in Canada
1
2

Beswick Tree Service

Serves Burlington, Brantford, Cambridge and Hamilton

4.8 · 870 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing
SpecializationsHighlighted: what they specialize in (up to 6)
Call 905-529-5612Visit websiteFull profile →
14ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences870 Google reviews
6
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience25+ years in business
6
Education & trainingNo arborists listed in the ISA directory
0
Local & independentFounded in Canada
1

The ISA directory is opt-in, so a company may have certified arborists we can't see. Ask.

3

DeVos Tree Care

Serves Burlington, Hamilton, Ancaster, Binbrook and Carlisle and more

4.9 · 209 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing
SpecializationsHighlighted: what they specialize in (up to 6)
Call (289) 768-7860Visit websiteFull profile →
10.5ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences209 Google reviews
4
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience11 years in business
3
Education & training1 ISA Certified Arborist
1.5
Local & independentFounded in Canada
1

Ties are broken by number of Google reviews.

More companies serving Burlington

4Kodiak Tree ServicesHamilton · 4.8 from 631 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed105Davey Tree Care Services (Burlington office)Burlington · 4.4 from 123 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed106Wildwood Tree Services LtdOakville · 4.7 from 90 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed107Diamond Tree Care & Consulting IncHalton Hills · 4.6 from 70 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed108Hudson Tree ServicesBurlington · 5.0 from 214 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed9See all 45 companies serving Burlington on the map →
Before you cut

Burlington’s private tree rules

Permit needed in some areas or cases

In Burlington's urban area (where most homes are), you need a City permit to remove or injure a tree measuring 20 cm or more across, measured 1.37 m off the ground. Dead, dying or high-risk trees still need a permit, but the usual fees and replacement trees are waived.

Urban area

Permit for trees 20 cm and up

Private Tree By-law 040-2022 covers trees 20 cm or more across (measured 1.37 m off the ground) inside the Urban Planning Area Boundary. Use the City's map to check if your home is inside. Normal pruning of up to one-third of the live crown does not need a permit.

Urban area

Replacement trees

Removed trees are usually replaced: 2 new trees for a 20–35 cm tree, 3 for 36–74 cm, and 4 for 75 cm or more. If there is no room to plant, you can pay cash-in-lieu instead.

Urban area

Dead or risky trees

Trees that are 100% dead, terminally ill or confirmed high-risk by a qualified professional still need a permit, but fees and replacement are waived. Invasive species and trees under 20 cm are exempt.

City-owned trees

Permit for any public tree

Public Tree By-law 098-2025 requires a permit for work on any tree on City property, including boulevard trees, whatever its size. The 2025 update added tiered removal fees and security deposits.

All of Halton Region

Woodlands over 0.5 hectare

Halton Region's Tree By-law 121-05 covers woodlands larger than 0.5 hectare and land in the Regional natural heritage system. Cutting there needs a Regional permit, with exemptions for dead or diseased trees and normal farming.

Anywhere in Ontario

Trees on a property line

A tree whose trunk sits on the line belongs to both neighbours. Ontario’s Forestry Act says you need your neighbour’s consent before removing or injuring it.

Size limits, fees, replacement trees and exemptions
Which trees need a permit
20 cm across, measured 1.37 m off the ground (urban area only)
Permit fee
Third-party sources list: $50 application processing fee + $325 for 1–3 trees, $225 for the 4th tree, $125 each for 5+ trees; injury permit $75/tree (plus HST). Year not confirmed; City says amounts are set in its Rates and Fees By-law.
Replacement trees
2:1 for 20–35 cm, 3:1 for 36–74 cm, 4:1 for 75 cm+; cash-in-lieu option (third-party sources list $250 per replacement tree, plus a $250 per-tree security deposit)
Common exemptions
  • Trees under 20 cm; pruning up to one-third of live crown; nursery/orchard trees; invasive species; emergency work (with notice); dead, terminal or high-risk trees still need a permit but fees and replacement are waived.
What’s changing

Rules under review

By-law 100-2025 (passed 2025-12-09) was a housekeeping amendment to the Private Tree By-law; Public Tree By-law 098-2025 updated with 2026 Rates and Fees. No further private tree changes found.

Not sure if you need a permit?

Ask the municipality before any work starts. A good tree company will also check for you and tell you who applies for the permit.

Service Burlington

905-335-7777Official information page →

Summary checked September 2026. It’s a plain-language guide, not legal advice. Bylaws change, so confirm with the municipality before you remove a tree.

Sources
Before you hire

What to check before you hire a tree service

Tree work is dangerous, and it’s expensive to fix when it goes wrong. Six questions worth asking any company, including the ones on this page.

  1. Ask for a WSIB clearance certificate and proof of liability insurance

    Tree work is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. We do our best on our end, but these certificates can change before we have a chance to update them. Some good companies will give them to you without you even having to ask. Bonus!

  2. Find out who will actually do the work

    You may get a Certified Arborist as your salesperson, but will the same be true of the person who works on your property? You won't know until you ask. A Certified Arborist may cost more, but it can cost a lot more if the work is done wrong and the tree dies early or your property is damaged.

  3. Get the quote in writing

    It should say exactly which trees, and whether cleanup, wood removal, stump grinding and so on are included. The more detailed the quote, the better.

  4. Ask who handles the permit

    If a bylaw applies, agree up front who applies for the permit and who pays the fee. Removing a protected tree without one usually means a fine for the property owner, not the tree company.

  5. If money is tight, try this

    See if the work can be scheduled in a slower season for a lower price. Clear obstacles (fences, gates, lawn ornaments, plants) before the crew arrives. Find someone online, such as on Facebook Marketplace, who will take the wood for free. Or change the scope of work, for example pruning only the lower half of the tree instead of the whole tree.

  6. Trees near power lines are a utility job

    If branches touch or come close to a hydro line, call your local hydro utility (the one on your electricity bill) first. Only crews the utility approves can work near power lines.

How we pick Burlington’s top 3

We rank every company whose service area includes Burlington by ARB Score. The score counts Google reviews, WSIB clearance, published insurance and pricing, years in business, ISA-verified arborists and Canadian ownership. We look up everything except insurance and pricing, which a company tells us itself.

Tree services near Burlington

HamiltonOakvilleMiltonMississaugaHalton HillsCambridge

ARB Scores reflect public records and research on the date checked. Always confirm insurance, certification and WSIB coverage directly with a company before you hire it.