A quick rule of thumb: the homeowners who avoid problems are the ones who get everything in writing, verify licensing and insurance before work starts, and never rely on a verbal promise for anything that matters. If a detail is important enough to ask about, it is important enough to have in the written quote or contract.

— WikiQuestions editorial guidance

Tree service failures range from improper pruning that harms a valuable tree to a tree section falling through a fence or roof. Here’s what to do when tree work causes property damage, kills a tree through improper technique, or doesn’t deliver what was agreed.

If There Is an Active Safety Emergency

A large tree has fallen, blocking the road with debris. A red car is nearby. If a tree has fallen on a structure, utility line, or person: – Call 911 immediately – Do not enter the structure until emergency services have assessed it – Do not touch or approach a utility line that has been struck — call 911 and then the utility company – Keep all people and pets away from the area

Step 1: Document Immediately

Powerful modern gas chainsaw with steel blade lying on ground near cut log and shrub in forest on sunny weather Before anything is moved, repaired, or cleaned up:
  • Photograph all damage — the fallen section, the impact point on the fence/roof/vehicle, the condition of the stump or tree remaining
  • Photograph the work crew and any vehicles — licence plates, company name on truck, any signage
  • Note the time and conditions of the incident
  • Record the names of any witnesses
If work was done through an improper pruning technique (topping, flush cuts, leaving stubs), photograph the cuts before any vegetation is disturbed.

Step 2: Contact the Company in Writing

Notify the company by email immediately — the same day if damage occurs:
  • Describe the damage specifically
  • Attach photographs
  • Reference their liability insurance as the coverage you expect to respond
  • Request that they notify their insurer and provide you with the claim reference number
Do not accept verbal promises. All communications should be in writing.

Step 3: File a Claim Through Their Liability Insurance

If property damage occurred — a tree section on a roof, a fence struck — this is what liability insurance exists to cover. Ask the company for:
  • Their insurance company name and policy number
  • Contact information for making a claim directly with the insurer
  • Written acknowledgment that they’re notifying their insurer
File the claim with their insurer directly. Document all costs associated with the damage — repair estimates, temporary protection measures, any emergency repairs.

Step 4: For Improper Pruning (Topped Tree, Flush Cuts, Excessive Removal)

If a tree has been topped, had flush cuts made, or had excessive crown removed against professional standards: Get an independent arborist assessment. Hire an ISA Certified Arborist who was not involved in the original work to assess the tree and document: – What was done to the tree – Whether it conforms to ANSI A300 standards – The damage to the tree’s health and structure – The estimated value of the damage and any remediation costs Tree value assessments can be done by appraisers using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (CTLA) methodology — this is the standard for insurance and legal disputes.

Remedies for improper pruning:

  • The reduced value of the tree (CTLA appraisal)
  • The cost of remedial pruning or treatment where possible
  • If the tree must be removed as a result of the damage, the full cost of removal plus the appraised value of the lost tree

Step 5: File Complaints

Your local consumer protection office (consumerprotectionontario.Ca): For misrepresentation of services or failure to deliver what was contracted. ISA (International Society of Arboriculture): If an ISA Certified Arborist was involved and the work clearly violated professional standards, a complaint can be filed with the ISA — potentially affecting their certification. Better Business Bureau: Creates a public complaint record. Local municipality: If a tree was removed without a required permit, the property owner (and potentially the contractor) may face fines and replacement requirements. The tree service’s failure to obtain a required permit does not indemnify the property owner — report it immediately to avoid escalating municipal liability.

Step 6: Small Claims Court or Litigation

For property damage or tree value claims:
  • Small claims court: Up to $35,000 in many regions
  • Superior Court: For claims above the limit
You’ll need: the original contract, photographs, the independent arborist’s written assessment, repair estimates or invoices, and the CTLA tree appraisal if claiming tree value.

If the Company Was Uninsured

If the company was operating without insurance — which you discover after an incident — your homeowner’s insurance may provide some coverage through your property damage provisions. Contact your insurer immediately. The uninsured contractor can be pursued through small claims court for the damages caused. Document everything you can about the company — name, truck, any contact information — before they disappear.

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