RESIDENTIAL CARE

Tree Removal, Pruning and Stump Grinding in Richmond Hill

Shade Tree Landscaping provides tree removal, tree cutting, pruning and stump grinding across Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Thornhill and the GTA. Fully insured crews, complete cleanup, and clear guidance on the tree permit rules before any protected tree comes down.

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+1 (416) 900-8918

Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Richmond Hill?

Yes, in most cases. Richmond Hill’s Tree Preservation By-law requires a permit before removing or injuring any private tree measuring 15 cm or more in diameter at breast height, measured 1.4 metres above the ground. Injury includes removing more than 20 percent of a tree’s live tissue within twelve months.

What our tree service covers in Richmond Hill and the GTA

Tree removal and tree cutting

Full removal of dead, dying, damaged or unwanted trees. Where a tree can be felled in one piece, that is the fastest and cheapest approach. Where it cannot, because of a house, a fence, a pool or a neighbouring property, the tree is climbed and taken down in sections, with limbs rigged and lowered under control rather than dropped.

Every removal includes full cleanup and debris haulage, unless you want the wood left on site.

Tree pruning and trimming

Deadwooding. Removing dead and dying limbs. The most common safety pruning and often the most urgent.
Crown thinning. Selectively removing branches to let light and wind through, which reduces the sail effect in storms.
Crown reduction. Reducing overall height and spread while keeping the tree's natural shape. This is not topping, which damages trees badly.
Clearance pruning. Creating space away from roofs, siding, driveways and overhead wires.
Structural pruning. Shaping young trees early so they develop strong form and need less intervention later.

Stump grinding

Grinding the stump below grade so the area can be sodded, planted or paved over. Stump grinding is normally quoted separately from removal, which is worth knowing when you compare quotes: one that excludes the stump can look cheaper while leaving you with the problem and a second contractor to hire.

Storm damage and hazardous trees

Fallen limbs, split trunks and trees leaning after high winds. We are not a dedicated emergency service, and we would rather tell you that than overpromise. Our typical response for urgent tree work is 12 to 24 hours.

If a tree is on a house, blocking a road, or touching a power line, call the utility or emergency services first, not a landscaping company.

Richmond Hill tree bylaw: when you need a permit before removing a tree

This is the part most homeowners get wrong, and the rules in Richmond Hill changed recently.

Richmond Hill replaced its old tree bylaw in 2025. Tree Preservation By-law 19-25 came into effect on 23 April 2025, superseding By-law 41-07. The threshold for a protected tree dropped from 20 cm to 15 cm diameter at breast height. A great deal of information still circulating online, including on other tree company websites, quotes the old 20 cm figure.

What needs a permit. Removing or injuring any private tree with a diameter of 15 cm or more, measured at 1.4 metres above the ground. To check your own tree, measure the circumference at that height and divide by 3.14. A 15 cm diameter tree has a circumference of roughly 47 cm, smaller than most people picture.

Injury is broader than most people expect. Removing more than 20 percent of a tree’s live tissue within twelve months counts as injury, and so does encroaching into the tree protection zone around the roots. Heavy pruning can require a permit even when the tree is staying, and so can excavation near the base.

Replacement trees and cash in lieu. Permits generally come with a replanting condition, and the number of replacement trees depends on the size of the tree removed. Where replanting is not possible, Richmond Hill’s 2026 Tariff of Fees sets a cash-in-lieu payment of $945 per tree.

City-owned trees are separate. Trees on the boulevard, road allowance or park land belong to the City and are handled by Urban Forestry through Access Richmond Hill on 905-771-8800. We do not touch City trees, and neither should any contractor.

Illegal removal is enforced. Suspected illegal removal can be reported to Richmond Hill’s By-law and Licensing Enforcement section on 905-771-0198. Penalties are significant and they fall on the property owner, not the contractor who did the cutting.

Tree permit thresholds across York Region and Toronto

The practical takeaway: a tree you could remove without a permit in Toronto may well need one in Richmond Hill. Check before you cut, not after.

Richmond Hill: 15 cm. Measured at 1.4 metres. The strictest threshold in the region, and recently lowered.
Vaughan: 20 cm. Tree Protection By-law 177-2025. Fines reach $10,000 for a first offence, $25,000 for subsequent offences and up to $100,000 for a corporation. Permits must be posted on the lot during removal.
Markham: 20 cm. Measured at 1.37 metres. Applications can take up to 45 days, so plan ahead.
Toronto: 30 cm. The most permissive of the four. For multi-stemmed trees, if any single stem reaches 30 cm the whole tree is protected.

How we handle the permit process

Richmond Hill generally requires a report from a certified arborist as part of a tree permit application. Here is how that works with us, stated plainly so there are no surprises.

We do not employ certified arborists. When your tree needs an arborist report, we arrange it through an independent certified arborist and the report cost is passed through to you. We then carry out the removal or pruning ourselves.

We will tell you before we quote whether your tree is likely to need a permit and a report, so you can budget for the whole thing rather than discovering the second cost later.

Signs a tree needs removal or pruning

Large dead limbs

particularly any hanging over a house, driveway, walkway or play area.

A sudden lean

or soil lifting and cracking on one side of the base. A tree that has always leaned is usually fine. One that has recently started to is not.

Cracks or splits in the main trunk

especially vertical seams or a split where two main stems join.

Mushrooms or shelf fungi at the base

Often signals root or butt rot, which is serious because the damage is underground and invisible.

Bark falling away in sheets

leaving smooth dead wood underneath.

Branches touching the roof

siding or overhead wires. Anything near a power line is a utility matter, not a DIY one.

A thinning canopy

or leaves appearing noticeably later than on nearby trees of the same species.

Ash trees showing dieback from the top down

Along with D-shaped exit holes in the bark. Emerald ash borer has killed very large numbers of ash across York Region, and an infested ash becomes brittle and dangerous to climb faster than most species.

Tree removal cost in Richmond Hill: what affects your quote

Tree removal pricing varies more than almost any other landscaping service, because the risk varies. A tree in an open back yard and the same tree overhanging a neighbour’s conservatory are completely different jobs, even though they look identical from the street.

Size and Species

Height, trunk diameter and how heavy and dense the wood is.

Location and Access

A tree a truck or crane can reach costs considerably less than one climbed and lowered piece by piece through a narrow side gate.

What is Underneath and Around it.

Fences, sheds, pools, gardens, overhead wires and neighbouring property all increase the care required.

Condition

A dead or decayed tree often costs more, not less. Decayed wood is unpredictable to climb.

Stump Grinding

Normally a separate line item. Always ask whether a quote includes it.

Permit, Arborist Report and Replanting

Where a permit is required, budget for the application fee, the independent arborist report, and any replacement tree or cash-in-lieu obligation. In Richmond Hill cash in lieu is $945 per tree.

Debris

Whether wood is chipped and hauled away, or cut to length and left on site as firewood.

Tree service areas across York Region and the GTA

York Region :

Toronto Area :

Also serving :

Tree work travels better than weekly services, because each job is a single visit rather than a fixed weekly round.

why choose us

Why property owners choose Shade Tree for tree removal

We tell you about the permit before we quote. Not after the tree is down. Illegal removal in Richmond Hill can be reported to bylaw enforcement, and the penalty falls on you as the property owner.

Controlled dismantling, not just felling. Rigging limbs down under control is slower than dropping them and it is what keeps fences, sheds and gardens intact.

Complete cleanup. Debris chipped and hauled, the site raked, and the wood left or removed as you prefer.

Our Reputation

Tree service reviews from Richmond Hill and York Region customers

Tonia Baker

“I made an email inquiry about having trees and plants removed from my front garden, and in less than 24 hours I had not only had a response, but the work was completed. Fantastic price, professional service.”

Clayton Cadeau, townhouse complex

“All work is done great, from cutting grass, tree trimming and bushes, garbage clean ups and snowplowing.”

FAQ

Tree removal in Richmond Hill
Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Richmond Hill?

In most cases, yes. Richmond Hill’s Tree Preservation By-law 19-25 requires a permit before removing or injuring any private tree with a diameter of 15 cm or more, measured 1.4 metres above the ground. The threshold was lowered from 20 cm when the bylaw changed in April 2025, so older guidance you may find online is out of date.

How do I measure whether my tree needs a permit?

Measure the circumference of the trunk at 1.4 metres above the ground, then divide by 3.14 to get the diameter. In Richmond Hill, 15 cm diameter or more means a permit is required. That is a circumference of roughly 47 cm, a smaller tree than most people expect.

Do I need an arborist report for a tree permit?

Richmond Hill generally requires a report from a certified arborist as part of a tree permit application. We do not employ certified arborists, so where a report is needed we arrange it through an independent certified arborist and carry out the tree work ourselves. This usually costs less than hiring an arborist firm for the whole job, because you are paying a specialist only for the part that requires one.

What counts as injuring a tree under the bylaw?

More than most people expect. Removing over 20 percent of a tree’s live tissue within twelve months counts as injury, and so does encroaching into the tree protection zone around the roots. Heavy pruning, and excavation near the base, can therefore require a permit even when the tree is staying.

Do the rules differ in Vaughan, Markham and Toronto?

Yes, significantly. Richmond Hill protects trees from 15 cm. Vaughan and Markham both use 20 cm. Toronto uses 30 cm. A tree you could remove without a permit in Toronto may well need one in Richmond Hill, so check with your own municipality before any work starts.

What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?

Illegal removal can be reported to Richmond Hill’s By-law and Licensing Enforcement section, and penalties are significant. In Vaughan, fines reach $10,000 for a first offence and up to $100,000 for a corporation. The liability sits with the property owner. We check the bylaw position before quoting and will not remove a protected tree without a permit in place.

What is the best time of year to prune trees in Ontario?

Late winter, roughly February to March, for most deciduous trees. The tree is dormant, the structure is visible without leaves, and wounds close quickly once growth resumes. Dead or dangerous limbs can be removed at any time. Avoid pruning oaks and elms in spring and early summer because of disease transmission risk.

Does tree removal include the stump?

Not usually. Stump grinding is normally a separate line item. Always ask, because a quote that excludes the stump can look cheaper while leaving you with the problem and a second contractor to arrange.

How quickly can you come out for storm damage?

Our typical response for urgent tree work is 12 to 24 hours. We are not a dedicated emergency service and we would rather say so than overpromise. If a tree is on a house, blocking a road or touching a power line, call the utility or emergency services first rather than a landscaping company.

Who is responsible if my neighbour's tree falls on my property?

In Ontario, a tree standing on the boundary line is generally jointly owned and neither party can remove it alone. If a healthy tree falls in a storm, that is usually treated as an act of nature and each owner deals with damage on their own property through their own insurer. If the tree was visibly dead or hazardous and the owner had been told, responsibility may shift. Speak to your insurer, and to a lawyer if the amounts are significant.

How do I know if a tree is dead or just dormant?

Scratch a small patch of bark on a young twig with a fingernail. Green underneath means living tissue. Brown and dry across several branches in different parts of the tree suggests it is dead. In spring, a tree that stays bare well after neighbouring trees of the same species have leafed out is a warning sign.

What is emerald ash borer and does it affect my tree?

An invasive beetle that has killed very large numbers of ash trees across Ontario, including throughout York Region. Signs include dieback starting at the top of the canopy, D-shaped exit holes in the bark, and woodpecker damage. An infested ash becomes brittle quickly, which makes it more dangerous and more expensive to remove the longer it is left.

Do you clean up afterwards?

Yes. Debris is chipped and hauled away and the site is raked. If you want the wood cut to length and left on site as firewood, tell us before we start and we will price it that way.

Do you handle trees on city property?

No. Trees on the boulevard, road allowance or park land belong to the City. In Richmond Hill, contact Urban Forestry through Access Richmond Hill on 905-771-8800.

Are you insured for tree work?

Yes. We carry $5 million in liability coverage, WSIB at the maximum amount available, and commercial auto insurance, and we are full members of Landscape Ontario. Tree work is the highest-risk service in landscaping, so ask any contractor for proof before they set foot on your property.

Related Services

Lawn Maintenance and Property Care

Weekly grass cutting, edging, trimming and blow down, plus spring and fall cleanups for homes and commercial grounds.

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Snow Removal

Driveways, walkways and parking lots cleared and salted all winter on a flat seasonal contract.

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Planting Services

Trees, shrubs, cedar privacy hedges and garden beds, chosen for York Region winters and clay soil.

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Interlocking Driveways and Patios

New installation and repairs, built on a base that holds up through Ontario freeze and thaw.

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Sod and Mulch Installation

New sod, lawn replacement and garden mulching, with the grading and topsoil done properly underneath.

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Get a Tree Removal Quote for your Richmond Hill property

Send us a photo of the tree and its surroundings, and a rough idea of the trunk size. We will tell you whether a permit is likely to be needed and give you a price for removal, pruning or stump grinding.