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London, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in London

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

28companies serve London
8with WSIB clearance confirmed
4.8average ARB Score here

London’s top 3 by ARB Score

1

CLC Tree Services Ltd.

Serves London

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 519-685-0257Visit websiteFull profile →
12ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences209 Google reviews
4
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.

2

London Stump Services

Serves London

5.0 · 360 Google reviewsWSIB clearance not confirmed
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 226-448-8171Visit websiteFull profile →
8ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences360 Google reviews
4
Compliance & transparencyInsurance proof and prices not posted yet
0
Years of experience10 years in business
3
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

Ape's Tree Service

Serves London, St. Thomas, Brantford, Cambridge and Ingersoll and more

5.0 · 247 Google reviewsWSIB clearance not confirmed
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 519-317-6493Visit websiteFull profile →
8ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences247 Google reviews
4
Compliance & transparencyInsurance proof and prices not posted yet
0
Years of experience10 years in business
3
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.

Ties are broken by number of Google reviews. Ape's Tree Service and Family Tree Arborists are tied at 8.

More companies serving London

4Family Tree ArboristsLondon · 5.0 from 206 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed85Big Dons Garden Tree ServiceLondon · 4.9 from 35 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed86Zap's Tree ServiceWoodstock-St.Thomas-Stratford · 4.8 from 32 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed87Woodland Tree ServicesLondon · 5.0 from 76 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed78Davey Tree Care Services (The Davey Tree Expert Company)LondonNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed7See all 28 companies serving London on the map →
Before you cut

London’s private tree rules

Permit needed across the city

In London's urban area you need a City permit to cut down a private tree 50 cm or wider, measured 1.4 m off the ground. In mapped Tree Protection Areas, trees of any size need a permit.

Inside the Urban Growth Boundary

Big trees need a permit

A private tree 50 cm or wider (measured 1.4 m off the ground) is a 'Distinctive Tree'. You need a permit to remove it, even if it is dead. An arborist fills in part of the application.

Tree Protection Areas

Trees of any size are protected

Some areas, mostly natural and wooded areas, are mapped as Tree Protection Areas. Trees of any size there need a permit. Email trees@london.ca before starting work.

Replanting

Removed trees must be replaced

If a healthy Distinctive Tree is removed, you must plant replacement trees on the same property: 1 tree for a 50 cm trunk, rising to 11 trees for trunks over 141 cm. If there is no room, the City charges $350 per tree not planted.

City boulevard trees

Hands off city trees

Trees on the City boulevard are protected by a separate by-law. You need written permission from the City to remove or damage one, and removal fees are based on trunk size. Fines start at $500.

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
50 cm measured 1.4 m off the ground (inside the Urban Growth Boundary); any size in Tree Protection Areas
Replacement trees
Required for healthy Distinctive Trees: 1 replacement tree for a 50 cm trunk, 2 for 51-60 cm, up to 11 for over 141 cm; $350 per tree paid to the City if replacements cannot fit on site.
Common exemptions
  • Hazardous trees posing an immediate threat to health or safety
  • Trees inside buildings, solariums or courtyards
  • Removal required to carry out an issued building permit
  • Normal farm practices
  • Dead Distinctive Trees still need a (simpler) permit

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 London Forestry (trees@london.ca)

519-661-5783Official 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 London’s top 3

We rank every company whose service area includes London 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 London

Norfolk CountyWaterlooKitchenerBrantfordCambridgeSarnia

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.