ArborProof

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Kingston, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Kingston

The three highest-scoring tree companies that serve Kingston, 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.

15companies serve Kingston
6with WSIB clearance confirmed
2.9average leaves here

Kingston’s top 3 by LEAF Score

1

Eco Tree Care Inc.

Serves Kingston

4.9 · 364 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

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
6/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews364 Google reviews
5+ years in business10 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist2 ISA Certified Arborists
John Madden, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Justin R. Smith, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holder2 with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
John Madden, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification See certificate →
Justin R. Smith, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification See certificate →
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: ETC ECO TREE CARE INC. See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
2

Madden & Company Tree Service

Serves Kingston and Westport

5.0 · 53 Google reviewsWSIB clearance not confirmed
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews53 Google reviews
5+ years in business7 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist1 ISA Certified Arborist
Matthew Philip Madden, Certified Arborist, ON-2378A See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holder1 with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
Matthew Philip Madden, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification See certificate →
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceNo WSIB account found under this business name
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
3

McLaren Tree Care

Serves Kingston

5.0 · 219 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

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews219 Google reviews
5+ years in business7 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist1 ISA Certified Arborist
Elliott McLaren, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holderNone confirmed
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: MCLAREN TREE CARE INC. See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada

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 Kingston

4Oliver K. Reichl - Consulting ArboristEastern OntarioNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed4/105A Better View Tree ServiceEastern Ontario · 4.5 from 26 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed4/106Tim Allen's Tree ServicesEastern Ontario · 4.4 from 63 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed4/107Shades of Green Tree CareEastern Ontario · 5.0 from 12 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed3/108Phillips Tree ServiceEastern Ontario · 4.7 from 28 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed3/10See all 15 companies serving Kingston on the map →
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

Kingston’s private tree rules

Permit needed in some areas or cases

Most homeowners on an existing house lot in Kingston do not need a permit to remove their own tree. A permit is needed for trees in protected natural areas, rare 'distinctive' species, lots with a pending development application, City trees, and clear-cutting.

Existing urban house lots

Usually no permit needed

Lots with a home built before the by-law, or created through a subdivision or consent, are exempt. The exemption does not apply in Environmental Protection Areas or Significant Woodlands.

Protected areas and special trees

Permit for trees 15 cm and up

A permit is needed for trees 15 cm or wider, measured 1.4 m off the ground, in Environmental Protection Areas, Open Space zones or Significant Woodlands, plus endangered species and 'distinctive' trees (black maple, ginkgo, Kentucky coffee tree, black walnut).

Whole city

Clear-cutting banned for now

A temporary by-law approved March 24, 2026 bans clearing most trees from an area over 0.2 hectares (about half an acre) without a permit, including farmland. It stays in place until the new Official Plan takes effect or Council changes it.

Development sites

Planning applications

Trees on land with an active planning application, or within two years of a pre-application, need a permit.

Whole city

City-owned and boulevard trees

Trees on City property, including road allowances, always need a permit before they are damaged or removed.

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
15 cm measured 1.4 m off the ground (only in protected areas, on development lands, rural lots and City land; existing house lots mostly exempt)
Permit fee
2026 tree permit: $119.90 (1-5 trees), $239.90 (6-15 trees), $479.35 (more than 15 trees); renewal $39.65 / $79.95 / $159.60
Replacement trees
Permits may require replacement planting or compensation (Section 17): 1:1 or 2:1 replacement, or a value set using the ISA trunk formula, with financial security held at least 2 years.
Common exemptions
  • Existing urban residential lots (outside Environmental Protection Areas and Significant Woodlands)
  • Pruning that does not harm the tree
  • Dead, diseased or dangerous trees confirmed by a certified arborist
  • Trees within 15 m of new construction with a building permit
  • Utility and driveway installation with no reasonable alternative
  • Rural personal-use firewood cutting within set limits
What’s changing

Rules under review

Feb 17, 2026: Council directed staff to bring amendments requiring permits for all clear-cutting, with rural consultation; report expected Q3 2026. Mar 24, 2026: temporary clear-cutting ban approved (base penalty $5,000 plus $5,000 per 0.1 ha, per news reports). Status of the permanent amendments as of Sept 2026 not confirmed.

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.

City of Kingston Planning Services (tree permits)

613-546-4291 ext. 3180 (City main line 613-546-0000)Official 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 year strip of months showing the dormant season as best for pruning live branches, the spring growth flush as the time to avoid heavy pruning, and dead or hazardous limbs removable any time.
Homeowner question

Does it matter when a tree gets pruned?

If the branches are dead or truly hazardous, then to protect your health and safety, it doesn't matter. Do it any time of the year. For live branches it is best done before the spring growth flush, when wounds close the fastest.

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.

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.

Tree services near Kingston

BellevilleOttawaPeterborough

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.