Arborist Report Vancouver — Certified Tree Assessments for Permits & Development

An arborist report is a formal document prepared by an ISA-certified arborist that assesses the condition, risk, and value of trees on a property. In Vancouver, arborist reports are legally required for tree removal permits under By-law 9958, development applications involving trees with a trunk diameter of 20 cm or greater, and many insurance claims. Aesthetic Tree & Hedge Services provides certified arborist reports for homeowners, developers, property managers, real estate agents, and strata councils across Greater Vancouver. Reports typically cost $150 to $450 per tree and are completed within 5 to 10 business days. Call (604) 721-7370 to schedule an assessment.

When Do You Need an Arborist Report in Vancouver?

Arborist reports are required or strongly recommended in the following situations:

Tree Removal Permits

The City of Vancouver's Protection of Trees By-law (No. 9958) requires a certified arborist report for any tree removal permit application involving trees with a trunk diameter of 20 cm or greater at 1.4 metres height. The report must document the tree's species, size, condition, the reason removal is necessary, and a replacement tree plan. Without this report, the City will not process your permit application.

Development and Building Permits

When a development, renovation, or new construction project (including laneway houses) affects trees on or adjacent to the site, the City requires a development arborist report. This report must include:

• A complete inventory of all trees on the site with species, size, and condition ratings
• An assessment of each tree's health and structural integrity
• Recommendations for which trees should be retained and which require removal
• A tree protection plan detailing how retained trees will be safeguarded during construction
• Critical root zone calculations and building setback recommendations

This report becomes part of the development permit application and must be prepared by an ISA-certified arborist.

Insurance Claims

When a tree falls on a structure, vehicle, or neighbouring property, insurance companies typically require an arborist report documenting the tree's pre-failure condition, the cause of failure, and whether the failure was foreseeable. This report helps establish liability and supports your claim.

Neighbour Disputes

Tree-related neighbour disputes — overhanging branches, root damage, blocked views, falling debris — are common in Vancouver's densely planted residential areas. An arborist report provides an objective, professional assessment of the situation and recommendations that carry weight in mediation, arbitration, or court proceedings.

Strata and Property Management

Strata councils and property management companies use arborist reports to assess tree risk across their properties, develop maintenance budgets, and document due diligence. Regular tree risk assessments protect the strata from liability if a tree fails and causes damage or injury.

Real Estate Transactions

Buyers and sellers occasionally commission arborist reports to assess the condition and potential liability of significant trees on a property. A healthy, well-maintained tree adds value; a declining or hazardous tree represents a future cost.

What Types of Arborist Reports Do We Provide?

Tree Risk Assessment (TRAQ)

A Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) assessment is the industry standard for evaluating tree hazards. Performed by an arborist who has completed the ISA's TRAQ training program, this assessment uses a systematic methodology to evaluate:

• Likelihood of failure: Based on structural defects (cracks, cavities, included bark, root damage), decay indicators, lean, and environmental factors
• Likelihood of impact: Based on the tree's proximity to targets (people, structures, vehicles, utilities)
• Consequences of failure: Based on the size of the potential failure and the value of the target

TRAQ assessments are available at three levels:

• Level 1 (Limited Visual): A walkthrough assessment of multiple trees, identifying obvious defects. Used for park inventories, property-wide surveys, and preliminary screening.
• Level 2 (Basic): A detailed visual assessment of individual trees, including the trunk, crown, root zone, and site conditions. This is the standard level for most residential arborist reports.
• Level 3 (Advanced): Uses specialized equipment (resistograph, sonic tomography, aerial inspection) to investigate specific defects identified in a Level 2 assessment. Required when internal decay or root damage is suspected but not visible externally.

Development Arborist Report

A comprehensive report required for development permit applications. It includes a complete tree inventory, health and structural assessments, retention/removal recommendations, tree protection plans with barrier specifications and critical root zone calculations, and compliance with all City of Vancouver requirements.

Tree Protection Plan

A detailed plan that specifies how trees retained on a development site will be protected during construction. It includes:

• Tree protection barrier locations and specifications
• Critical root zone (CRZ) boundaries (calculated as trunk diameter in cm x 10 = CRZ radius in cm)
• Permitted and prohibited activities within the CRZ
• Monitoring schedule and reporting requirements
• Remediation protocols if tree protection is breached

Tree Valuation Report

Calculates the monetary value of a tree using standardized methods (typically the trunk formula method from the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers). Used for insurance claims, legal disputes, and assessing financial penalties for tree damage or unauthorized removal.

Tree Management Plan

A long-term care plan for trees on a property, including recommended pruning schedules, pest and disease management, fertilization, watering during drought, and monitoring intervals. Commonly requested by strata councils and commercial property managers.

What Does an Arborist Report Include?

A standard Aesthetic Tree arborist report includes:

1. Arborist credentials — Name, ISA certification number, and qualifications of the assessing arborist
2. Site information — Property address, legal description, site plan with tree locations
3. Tree inventory — For each tree: species (common and scientific name), trunk diameter at breast height (DBH), estimated height, crown spread, and approximate age
4. Health assessment — Foliage density, colour, and distribution; presence of disease symptoms, pest damage, or nutritional deficiencies
5. Structural assessment — Trunk and branch defects including cracks, cavities, included bark, co-dominant stems, decay, and lean
6. Root zone assessment — Visible root condition, soil compaction, grade changes, proximity to structures and utilities
7. Risk rating — Based on TRAQ methodology: low, moderate, high, or extreme
8. Recommendations — Specific actions: retain, prune, cable/brace, monitor, or remove, with rationale for each
9. Tree protection plan (if applicable) — Barrier locations, CRZ calculations, construction-phase protocols
10. Photographic documentation — Colour photographs of each assessed tree, showing overall form and any specific defects
11. Site plan — Scaled drawing showing tree locations, property boundaries, and proposed development footprint

How Much Does an Arborist Report Cost in Vancouver?

Arborist report pricing depends on the number of trees, the type of assessment, and the complexity of the site:

• Single tree, basic assessment: $150 to $300
• Per tree on multi-tree sites: $150 to $450 per tree (with volume discounts for larger inventories)
• Arborist hourly rate: $100 to $250 per hour
• Full-day assessment (large sites, 10+ trees): $800 to $2,000
• Level 3 advanced assessment (resistograph, tomography): additional $200 to $500 per tree for equipment and analysis

Reports are typically delivered within 5 to 10 business days of the on-site assessment. Rush service is available for urgent permit applications or insurance deadlines.

What is included in the fee: The on-site assessment, professional report preparation, tree location mapping, photographic documentation, and one round of revisions if the City or your architect requires additional information.

How Long Does the Permit Process Take with an Arborist Report?

Report preparation: 5 to 10 business days from the date of the on-site assessment.

City of Vancouver permit processing: Typically 2 to 4 weeks after a complete application is submitted. Applications that include a thorough arborist report with all required components are processed faster than incomplete submissions.

Total timeline: From initial contact to permit approval, expect approximately 4 to 6 weeks for a straightforward removal, or 6 to 10 weeks for development-related applications that require coordination with building permits.

We recommend starting the arborist report process as early as possible, particularly for development projects where the tree assessment informs the site design.

What Makes an ISA-Certified Arborist Different?

ISA certification is the globally recognized standard for arboricultural competence. To earn the ISA Certified Arborist credential, a professional must:

• Have a minimum of 3 years of full-time practical experience in arboriculture (or the equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Pass a comprehensive 200-question examination covering tree biology, diagnosis, safety, pruning, soil science, tree risk assessment, and urban forestry
• Maintain certification through 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every 3 years, covering all 10 tested domains of arboriculture
• Adhere to the ISA Code of Ethics

Additional specialized credentials include:

• ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) — Required for formal tree risk assessments in many municipalities
• ISA Board Certified Master Arborist — The highest level of ISA certification, requiring additional examination and demonstrated expertise
• ISA Certified Arborist - Municipal Specialist — For arborists working in urban forestry and municipal tree management
• ISA Certified Arborist - Utility Specialist — For arborists working on trees near power lines and utilities

When you hire an ISA-certified arborist, you are working with a professional who has demonstrated competence through examination and maintains current knowledge through ongoing education. This matters because arborist reports prepared by non-certified individuals may not be accepted by the City of Vancouver for permit applications.

Areas We Serve

We provide arborist report services throughout Greater Vancouver, including the City of Vancouver, North Vancouver (City and District), West Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, and Richmond. Each municipality has its own tree protection bylaws and report requirements — we are familiar with the specific requirements for each jurisdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an arborist report cost in Vancouver?

A basic arborist report for a single tree in Vancouver typically costs $150 to $300. Multi-tree sites are priced at $150 to $450 per tree with volume discounts. Full-day assessments for large properties with 10+ trees range from $800 to $2,000. The fee includes the on-site assessment, professional report, photographic documentation, and site plan.

Do I need an arborist report to remove a tree in Vancouver?

Yes. The City of Vancouver requires a certified arborist report as part of every tree removal permit application for trees with a trunk diameter of 20 cm or greater at 1.4 metres height. The report must document the tree's condition and provide a professional recommendation for removal. Applications without an arborist report will not be processed.

How long does it take to get an arborist report?

Reports are typically completed within 5 to 10 business days of the on-site assessment. Rush service is available for urgent situations. The full timeline from initial contact to report delivery is usually 1 to 2 weeks.

What is a TRAQ assessment?

TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) is a standardized methodology developed by the ISA for evaluating tree hazards. A TRAQ assessment systematically evaluates the likelihood of tree failure, the likelihood of the failure hitting a target, and the consequences of that impact. It is the industry standard for tree risk assessment and is required by several Metro Vancouver municipalities for removal permits.

Can I use one arborist report for both a removal permit and a development permit?

In many cases, yes. If the arborist report includes all the components required for both applications — tree inventory, health and structural assessment, removal justification, replacement plan, and tree protection plan — it can serve both purposes. We routinely prepare reports that satisfy multiple permit requirements to save clients time and money.

What happens if the City denies my tree removal permit?

If a permit is denied, the City typically provides reasons. Common reasons include insufficient justification for removal, the tree being healthy enough to retain, or inadequate replacement planting plans. We can help you revise the application, provide additional documentation, or explore alternatives such as pruning or risk mitigation that address the City's concerns without requiring removal.