Town Tree Maintenance and Services

If you notice an issue with a Town-owned tree on a street, in a park, or other public space, you can let us know. Below are some common examples of when residents contact us:

• Broken, hanging, or fallen branches

• Fallen or uprooted trees

• Fallen or hazardous limbs blocking sidewalks or roads

• Pruning for safety or visibility (e.g., traffic signs, intersections)

• Inspection of a potentially dead, dying, or hazardous tree

• Concerns about tree health, including tree insects, diseases, and invasive species (see our Tree Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Species page for a list of species to watch for)

Report a Tree Issue

Please use our online form below to submit a non-urgent service request.

For urgent hazards posing an immediate risk to public safety, please call 905-668-3437 directly.

(Emergency situations should be reported by phone, as online requests are monitored during regular business hours.)

As part of our commitment to maintaining a healthy urban forest, Town arborists regularly prune trees located on municipal property. Pruning is essential for enhancing tree health, preventing hazards and supporting a safe community for all.

Our forestry team follows industry best practices, with a strong focus on community safety, to ensure optimal care and longevity of our trees by:

• Removing dead, weak, damaged or diseased branches
• Ensuring safe clearance around sidewalks, roads, traffic signs/lights, and buildings
• Redirecting growth away from hydro lines and other infrastructure

Street trees are inspected and pruned every five-seven years through our Winter Block Pruning Program to ensure consistent care across neighbourhoods.

 Important: If a tree is within 3 meters of hydro wires, please contact Elexicon Energy to request pruning. 

Each winter, the Town conducts seasonal pruning of residential street trees as part of our ongoing tree care program. Through the rotational Block Pruning Program, trees are proactively pruned on a on a 5–7 year cycle.

This program aims to support the following objectives:

✔ Supports long-term tree health and structure

✔ Removes dead, dying or hazardous branches

✔ Improves visibility for pedestrians and drivers

✔ Provides clearance from infrastructure such as streetlights, driveways, and sidewalks

Tree removal is considered a last resort and only happens when absolutely necessary, usually due to safety concerns, poor tree health, or structural issues that pose a risk to people or property.

Trees may be removed for reasons such as:

• Hazardous Trees – Trees that present an immediate safety risk due to their condition or location, such as severe leaning, large dead branches over walkways, or trees that have fallen onto infrastructure like power lines or buildings.

• Dead or Dying Trees – Trees in poor health that are unlikely to recover and no longer contribute to the urban forest’s health or safety.

• Structural Issues – Trees with serious structural damage or disease that may result in falling branches or trunk to collapse.

• Interference with Infrastructure– Trees that significantly obstruct essential services, utilities, or planned construction projects.

Each tree removal due to health concerns is carefully evaluated by an ISA Certified Arborist on Town staff to ensure it is the most appropriate course of action for public safety and the long-term health of the urban forest. Where possible, the Town aims to plant more trees than are removed to support a growing and resilient tree urban forest. 

If you see a tree that looks damaged or unsafe, please report it to the Town so we can inspect it and take any needed action.

After a tree is removed from a street or park, the remaining stump will be removed at a later date. To help us complete this work safely and efficiently, please ensure the area is clear of any tree wells, plantings, bricks, stones, or other obstructions placed around the base of the stump.

Stump removal is completed separately from tree removal and requires locates to identify any underground infrastructure.

Once the stump is removed, the site will be assessed to determine if there is enough space to replant a tree. While the goal is to replace the site with a new tree, not all locations will be suitable due to space limitations and required clearances from infrastructure. Learn more about our tree planting program on our Tree planting page.