ArborProof

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Peterborough, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Peterborough

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

12companies serve Peterborough
8with WSIB clearance confirmed
6.7average ARB Score here

Peterborough’s top 3 by ARB Score

1

Treescape Certified Arborists (Treescape Tree Care Professionals Limited)

Serves Peterborough, Ennismore, Lakefield, Buckhorn and Lindsay and more

4.8 · 133 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 705-745-1803Visit websiteFull profile →
15ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences133 Google reviews
3
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience25+ years in business
6
Education & training1 Board Certified Master Arborist
4
Local & independentFounded in Canada
1
2

Stewart Services

Serves Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon and Lindsay and more

5.0 · 113 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 289-314-4470Visit websiteFull profile →
9ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences113 Google reviews
3
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience15 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.

3

CBL Tree Service

Serves Peterborough and Keene

5.0 · 255 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 705-931-2227Visit websiteFull profile →
8ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences255 Google reviews
4
Compliance & transparencyInsurance proof and prices not posted yet
0
Years of experience12 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.

More companies serving Peterborough

4Van Till Tree Care & RemovalCentral Ontario/Cottage Country · 4.9 from 95 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed75TREEWORKS Professional Tree CareCentral Ontario/Cottage Country · 4.4 from 41 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed76P & A Urban Forestry Consulting Ltd.Richmond Hill · 4.9 from 10 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed77Davey Tree Care Services (Kawartha Lakes office)Central Ontario/Cottage CountryNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed78Davey Tree Care Services (Quinte & Northumberland office)Eastern OntarioNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed7See all 12 companies serving Peterborough on the map →
Before you cut

Peterborough’s private tree rules

Permit needed across the city

Anywhere in Peterborough, you need a City permit before removing a private tree at least 7.5 cm wide, measured 1.4 m off the ground, and 4.5 m tall. Healthy trees 15 cm and up also carry a permit fee and must be replaced.

Whole city

Permit for nearly all trees

A tree is covered if it is at least 4.5 m tall and 7.5 cm wide, measured 1.4 m off the ground. Apply online before cutting; permits last 90 days.

Whole city

Dead or dying trees still need a permit

You still apply for dead or dying trees, but only the application fee is charged.

Whole city

Licensed tree companies can issue permits

A Licensed Tree Service Provider can submit the application for you at a lower permit fee.

Whole city

City-owned and boulevard trees

Street and park trees belong to the City and cannot be removed by residents. Contact Public Works for concerns.

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
7.5 cm measured 1.4 m off the ground and at least 4.5 m tall
Permit fee
Application fee $15 (0-5 trees) or $150 (6+ trees); permit fee for healthy trees 15 cm and up: $50 if filed by a Licensed Tree Service Provider, $150 if filed by the owner (City page, current as of 2026; year of fee schedule not stated)
Replacement trees
One replacement tree (at least 2 cm wide) for each tree removed, planted on the property, or a $550 per-tree replacement fee.
Common exemptions
  • City work and utility line clearing
  • Trees removed under approved planning conditions
  • Licensed surveyors, aggregate pits, nurseries and orchards
  • Work required by a property standards order

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 Peterborough Urban Forestry / Service Centre

705-742-7777 (toll-free 1-855-738-3755)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
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 Peterborough’s top 3

We rank every company whose service area includes Peterborough 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 Peterborough

Kawartha LakesClaringtonOshawaWhitbyAjaxBelleville

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.