ArborProof

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Thunder Bay, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Thunder Bay

The three highest-scoring tree companies that serve Thunder Bay, 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.

5companies serve Thunder Bay
4with WSIB clearance confirmed
6.7average ARB Score here

Thunder Bay’s top 3 by ARB Score

1

Rutter Urban Forestry

Serves Thunder Bay

4.9 · 50 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 807-627-6201Visit websiteFull profile →
10.5ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences50 Google reviews
2
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience21 years in business
5
Education & training1 ISA Certified Arborist
1.5
Local & independentFounded in Canada
1
2

Boreal Tree Service Inc.

Serves Thunder Bay and Kenora

5.0 · 101 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 807-251-8733Visit websiteFull profile →
10ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences101 Google reviews
3
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience23 years in business
5
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

Mitigoog Solutions Inc.

Serves Thunder Bay, Marathon and Nipigon

5.0 · 84 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 807-631-6063Visit websiteFull profile →
6ARB Score

Score breakdown

Positive client experiences84 Google reviews
2
Compliance & transparencyWSIB clearance confirmed
1
Years of experience5 years in business
2
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. Mitigoog Solutions Inc. and Tree and Tractor are tied at 6.

More companies serving Thunder Bay

4Tree and TractorNorthern Ontario · 5.0 from 28 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed65Nice Guy For HireNorthern Ontario · 4.6 from 11 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed1See all 5 companies serving Thunder Bay on the map →
Before you cut

Thunder Bay’s private tree rules

No permit needed for private trees

Thunder Bay does not require a permit to remove trees on your own property. City boulevard trees are protected by the Public Tree By-law, and only City contractors plant or remove them.

Whole city

No private tree permit

The City's tree by-law covers public trees only. You can remove or plant trees on your own lot without a City permit.

Whole city

City-owned and boulevard trees

Damaging a City-owned tree on purpose or by neglect is an offence under the Public Tree By-law. You cannot plant on the boulevard yourself, but you can request a City tree.

Construction near City trees

Tree protection standards

Anyone working near a City tree must follow the City's tree protection standards during construction.

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.

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 Thunder Bay Infrastructure & Operations Dispatch (Urban Forestry)

807-625-2195Official 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 Thunder Bay’s top 3

We rank every company whose service area includes Thunder Bay 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.

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.