ArborProof

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Markham, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Markham

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

26companies serve Markham
13with WSIB clearance confirmed
6average ARB Score here

Markham’s top 3 by ARB Score

1

Shady Lane Expert Tree Care

Serves Markham, Richmond Hill, Toronto and Vaughan

4.9 · 569 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) 830-0081Visit websiteFull profile →
17.5ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences569 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

Derek's Tree Service

Serves Markham, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville and Etobicoke and more

4.9 · 151 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 905-824-3017Visit websiteFull profile →
12.5ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences151 Google reviews
3
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience25+ years in business
6
Education & training1 ISA Certified Arborist
1.5
Local & independentFounded in Canada
1
3

Timberscapes Tree & Plant Services

Serves Markham, Sutton West, Georgina, Keswick and Beaverton and more

4.9 · 373 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 905-251-7422Visit websiteFull profile →
10ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences373 Google reviews
4
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience17 years in business
4
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.

More companies serving Markham

4Davey Tree Care Services (East Toronto office)Durham Region · 4.7 from 80 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed95White Glove Tree ServicesToronto · 4.9 from 39 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed96Ashley's Tree CareToronto · 4.7 from 163 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed87BigLeaf Tree ServiceMarkham · 4.8 from 117 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed88Davey Tree Care Services (Northeast Toronto office)Markham · 4.9 from 37 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed8See all 26 companies serving Markham on the map →
Before you cut

Markham’s private tree rules

Permit needed across the city

In Markham you need a City permit to remove or injure any tree on private property with a trunk 20 cm or wider, measured 1.4 m off the ground. This applies even if the tree is dead, dying or dangerous.

Whole city

Permit for trees 20 cm and up

Under Tree Preservation By-law 2023-164, a permit is needed to remove or injure a private tree 20 cm or wider, measured 1.37 m (about 1.4 m) off the ground. Dead, dying and hazard trees still need a permit; hazard trees can get a faster review with photos or an arborist's risk report.

Whole city

Replanting may be required

For healthy trees, the City may require replacement planting or a cash-in-lieu payment as a permit condition. Dead, dying and hazard trees are not charged replacement.

Whole city

Allow up to 45 days

The City reviews applications within 45 days after the processing fee is paid. Pay within 24 hours of getting the bill email or the application may be cancelled.

City-owned trees

Street and park trees are protected at any size

Trees on City land, including boulevards, are protected no matter their size. Do not prune or remove them; ask the City's Forestry Operations to inspect.

All of York Region

Woodlands go to York Region

Woodlands are exempt from Markham's by-law and are regulated by York Region's Forest Conservation By-law 2013-68. Treed areas over 0.2 ha (about half an acre) need a Region permit before cutting.

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 trunk width, measured 1.37 m (about 1.4 m) off the ground
Permit fee
$20.50 non-refundable processing fee per application (effective January 16, 2026). A per-tree permit fee ($203.50 first tree, $102 each additional) is reported by a third-party source but was not confirmed on an official City page.
Replacement trees
Replacement planting and/or cash-in-lieu may be required for trees that are not dead, dying or hazardous (by-law uses an aggregate caliper method).
Common exemptions
  • Trees under 20 cm
  • Woodlands (regulated by York Region instead)
  • Nursery and cultivated orchard trees
  • Trees in indoor courtyards/solariums
  • Pruning done to good arboricultural practice

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 Markham Tree Preservation Unit

905-477-7000Official 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 Markham’s top 3

We rank every company whose service area includes Markham 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 Markham

Richmond HillVaughanAuroraPickeringTorontoNewmarket

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.