ArborProof

Fact-checking tree companies.

Clarington, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Clarington

The three highest-scoring tree companies that serve Clarington, ranked by LEAF 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.

12companies serve Clarington
6with WSIB clearance confirmed
3.1average leaves here

Clarington’s top 3 by LEAF Score

1

Brooklin Tree Care Inc.

Serves Clarington, Brooklin, Whitby, Oshawa and Ajax and more

5.0 · 148 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
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews148 Google reviews
5+ years in business7 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist2 ISA Certified Arborists
Eric Batty, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Mark Batty, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: BROOKLIN TREE CARE INC. See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
2

Tandem Tree Service

Serves Clarington, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa and more

5.0 · 149 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
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews149 Google reviews
5+ years in business10 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist1 ISA Certified Arborist
Luke O'Brien, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: NOAH PERRY AND LUKE O'BRIEN / TANDEM TREE SERVICE See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
3

Skylark Tree Care

Serves Clarington, Oshawa, Whitby and Durham Region

5.0 · 436 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
4/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews436 Google reviews
5+ years in business10 years in business
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: SKYLARK TREE CARE INC. See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada

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

Ties are broken by number of credentials (each Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holder counts, so someone with two counts twice), then Google reviews.

More companies serving Clarington

The same tree twice. In winter with the leafs off, an arborist sees the branch structure, joints, cracks and dead limbs. With the leafs on, they see leaf health, dieback and pests.
Homeowner question

Should an arborist assess a tree with the leafs on or off?

Both views have their pros and cons. In the winter an arborist can see the overall structure of the tree better. If there are splits in branches, we can see them more clearly. The downside is that sometimes it is a little harder to see which branches are dead or alive.

Bottom line: if you think your tree needs to be assessed, don't let the time of year stop you from reaching out to an arborist.

Before you cut

Clarington’s private tree rules

Permit needed in some areas or cases

Clarington does not require a permit to remove a tree on a typical house lot. Permits are needed only in woodlots of 0.2 ha (about half an acre) or more, Environmental Protection Areas, and within 120 m of wetlands.

Mapped areas only

Woodlots and protected lands

Woodlot Preservation By-law 97-35 applies to woodlots of 0.2 ha or more, lands designated Environmental Protection Area in the Official Plan, and trees within 120 m of identified wetlands.

Standard lots

Typical yards are not covered

An ordinary tree on a regular lot outside those areas does not need a Municipal permit.

Municipal trees

Road and park trees belong to the Municipality

Ask Public Works to assess municipal trees for trimming, removal or replacement. Do not cut them yourself.

All of Durham Region

Woodlands 1 ha and larger

Durham Region's Woodland By-law 30-2020 requires a Region permit to cut in woodlands of 1 ha (2.5 acres) or more. A clear-cutting permit is needed to clear more than 0.1 ha.

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
Permit fee
By-law 97-35 lists $25 (woodlot 2 ha or less), $50 (woodlot over 2 ha), $75 (Environmental Protection Area or wetland buffer); these are from the by-law consolidation and current fees were not confirmed. Durham Region: $50 Good Forestry Practices permit; $500–$1,000 clear-cutting.
Replacement trees
Permit conditions may set the species, size, number and location of replacement trees.
Common exemptions
  • Land outside woodlots, Environmental Protection Areas and 120 m wetland buffers
  • Orchards, Christmas tree farms and nurseries under active management
  • Utility, municipal and Conservation Authority work
  • Work under approved subdivision agreements
  • Emergency work

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 Clarington (Public Works for municipal trees)

905-623-3379Official 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
A gutter with a guard on top. Wet leafs pile up on the guard and carry rain water over the front edge of the gutter instead of into it, so guards still need to be cleared from time to time.
Homeowner question

Do gutter guards work against leafs?

They can help, but it is important to understand that they are not a cure-all. Having a gutter guard does not mean the gutters will never need to be inspected and cleared of leafs from time to time.

This is particularly the case when leafs get wet and accumulate. The leafs can sit on the gutter guard and act as a bridge, carrying the water right over the top of the gutter.

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.

Two views of a tree next to a house. On the left a branch touches the roof. On the right the branch has been cut back to a side branch just outside the branch collar so it no longer touches.
Homeowner question

If a tree is rubbing against a house, how far back should it be pruned?

Evergreens typically grow more slowly, so they don't need as much clearance. Most deciduous trees should be pruned back approximately 2 metres (6 to 7 feet) from the house.

We caution against clearing too much from the house side. It can injure the tree and pose a greater risk to your house. For example, if a high branch breaks, there is no lower branch for it to get caught on.

Tree services near Clarington

LEAF 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.