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Pickering, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Pickering

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

11companies serve Pickering
5with WSIB clearance confirmed
6average ARB Score here

Pickering’s top 3 by ARB Score

1

Evans Tree Work

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

4.9 · 112 Google reviewsWSIB clearance not issued on the date checked
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 905-718-9528Visit websiteFull profile →
10ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences112 Google reviews
3
Compliance & transparencyInsurance proof and prices not posted yet
0
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

Davey Tree Care Services (East Toronto office)

Serves Pickering, Scarborough, Stouffville, North York and Uxbridge and more

4.7 · 80 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 416-248-9644Visit websiteFull profile →
9ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences80 Google reviews
2
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience25+ years in business
6
Education & trainingNo arborists listed in the ISA directory
0
Local & independentNot founded in Canada
0

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

3

Davey Tree Care Services (Northeast Toronto office)

Serves Pickering, Stouffville, Newmarket, Uxbridge and Markham

4.9 · 37 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 416-410-8770Visit websiteFull profile →
8ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences37 Google reviews
1
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience25+ years in business
6
Education & trainingNo arborists listed in the ISA directory
0
Local & independentNot founded in Canada
0

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. Davey Tree Care Services (Northeast Toronto office) and Cross Brothers Tree Service are tied at 8.

More companies serving Pickering

4Cross Brothers Tree ServiceDurham RegionNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed85Darlington Tree ServiceDurham Region · 4.6 from 27 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed76Bark Tree ServiceDurham Region · 4.8 from 24 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed67Dreamworks Tree ServicesDurham RegionNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed58Royal Tree Service OshawaDurham Region · 5.0 from 193 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed4See all 11 companies serving Pickering on the map →
Before you cut

Pickering’s private tree rules

Permit needed in some areas or cases

In Pickering, a permit is needed to remove a tree only if your property is inside a mapped Tree Protection Area, usually near creeks, wetlands and green spaces. Inside those areas even small trees (2.5 cm, about 1 inch) and dead trees need a permit.

Tree Protection Areas

Check the map first

Tree Protection By-law 8073/24 (approved January 22, 2024) applies in areas shown on Schedule A, which mostly follow watercourses, wetlands, the Oak Ridges Moraine and green spaces. Outside those areas no City permit is needed.

Tree Protection Areas

Small trees count

Inside a protected area, trees as small as 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) across are regulated.

Tree Protection Areas

Dead or dangerous trees still need a permit

Dead, dangerous, diseased or badly injured trees need a permit. It is free if you include a certified arborist's report; a City arborist inspection costs $50.

City-owned trees

Boulevard trees belong to the City

Contact the Customer Care Centre about City or boulevard trees. Do not prune or remove 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.

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
2.5 cm (about 1 inch) trunk width, only inside mapped Tree Protection Areas (measuring height not confirmed)
Permit fee
2026: $155 standard removal permit; no charge for dead, diseased or dangerous trees with a certified arborist report; $50 if a City arborist inspection is needed.
Replacement trees
The City may require replacement planting; details not confirmed in the pages read.
Common exemptions
  • Properties outside mapped Tree Protection Areas
  • Trees under 2.5 cm

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 Pickering Customer Care Centre

905-683-7575Official 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 Pickering’s top 3

We rank every company whose service area includes Pickering 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 Pickering

AjaxWhitbyOshawaMarkhamRichmond HillToronto

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.