Tree removal in Aurora, Ontario: the complete step-by-step process

Two timelines

How long the process takes (2-6 weeks for permit work; 24-72 hours for emergencies)

Two paths run in parallel. The "standard" path applies to healthy trees over 20 cm DBH — the Town of Aurora permit drives the calendar, with the work itself fitting into a single morning once the permit is in hand. The "expedited" path applies to dead, dying, hazardous, EAB-killed ash, certain invasive non-natives, or post-storm emergency removals — no permit required, just documentation, and the work can be done within 24-72 hours.

Below is the standard 9-step process. Skip steps 3-5 if your tree qualifies for an exemption.

Step 1 — Initial assessment

Describe the tree by phone, email, or web form. The information that actually matters: species (if you know it — the arborist will confirm), approximate height, trunk diameter at chest height, distance to the nearest structure (house, garage, fence, hydro line), and any access constraints (locked gate, narrow side yard, septic field over the drop zone). Photos from multiple angles are gold. A 30-second video walkaround is even better.

Most Aurora residential removals can be quoted from this description alone. We visit on-site only when the job genuinely requires it: crane work, multi-tree heritage-district access, complex hydro coordination, or insurance-claim emergency dispatches.

Step 2 — Written itemized quote (within 24 hours)

A written, itemized, fixed-price quote arrives within 24 hours during business days. The quote covers:

• ISA-certified arborist on-site (certification number provided on request)
• $2M general liability insurance certificate (verifiable before work starts)
• Current WSIB clearance certificate
• Town of Aurora By-Law 6362-21 permit application at no separate charge
• Tree felling, rigging, and removal
• Complete debris haul-away, work-area cleanup
• Disposal at a registered facility (especially important for ash under CFIA rules)
• Stump grinding (if included in scope) priced separately
• Estimated replacement-tree obligation if the tree is healthy and over 20 cm DBH
• Crane line item (if needed) at $400-$900 for a half-day operator

For a full pricing breakdown, see our Aurora tree removal cost guide.

Step 3 — Determine if a permit is required

Under Town of Aurora By-Law 6362-21, healthy trees over 20 cm DBH on private property require a permit. The five exemption categories are:

1. Dead trees. No permit; photograph and document anyway.
2. Dying trees. ISA-certified arborist diagnosis of irreversible decline. Arborist report documents the exemption.
3. Hazardous trees. Imminent risk to people or structures. Leaning, split-stem, root-failure, structurally compromised wood.
4. Certain invasive non-native species. Check the current by-law schedule. Black locust and Manitoba maple are common Aurora examples.
5. Emergency post-storm. Can proceed without prior permit. Town must be notified within 7 days under Section 6.1.

EAB-killed ash trees qualify as dead-or-dying and are exempt; we document with field photographs showing the diagnostic D-shaped exit holes.

Step 4 — File the Town of Aurora permit application

We complete the application form on your behalf. The package submitted to Aurora Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services includes:

• Completed By-Law 6362-21 application form
• ISA-certified arborist condition assessment
• Photographs (multiple angles, showing the tree, surrounding structures, and any property-line context)
• Property sketch showing the tree location relative to property lines, structures, and hydro lines
• Application fee (approximately $100, paid by the homeowner; passed through at cost)
• Proposed replacement-tree species and planting location, OR election to pay the in-lieu fee

Application fee is approximately $100. We do not mark up the Town fee.

Step 5 — Permit issued — Town conditions reviewed

Standard review: 14-30 days. Heritage Conservation District properties (Northeast Old Aurora HCD, Aurora Promenade HCD): 4-8 weeks because the application also goes to Aurora's Heritage Advisory Committee. The Town can request additional information during review, but outright denial is rare for routine residential applications.

The issued permit attaches conditions: typically a replacement-tree obligation (plant within 12 months) or an in-lieu cash contribution. For very large heritage-scale trees the in-lieu fee can run $1,000-$3,000. The quote you received in step 2 should already include this estimate.

Step 6 — File Ontario One Call locate (if stump grinding included)

Under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act (OUINSA, 2012), a free locate request is filed with Ontario One Call at least 5 business days before any below-grade work. Ontario One Call dispatches utility-company crews to mark gas, hydro, telecom, and water lines on the property. We file the request as part of the job — you do not need to do anything.

Same-day stump grinding is generally not possible because of the locate delay. We typically run the permit timeline and the locate timeline in parallel so the locate is complete by the time the permit is issued.

Step 7 — Schedule the removal day

We confirm a removal date 1-2 weeks out. Site prep checklist:

• Clear access to the tree — move vehicles out of the chipper and crane path
• Unlock side gates if backyard access is needed
• Inform neighbours if rigging will extend over a shared property line
• Move outdoor furniture, BBQ, kids' toys, or anything fragile out of the work area
• Cover pool if the drop zone is near it
• Decide what to do with the wood rounds (haul away / keep as firewood / chip on-site)

Step 8 — Removal day

A typical removal day for a single mature tree:

1. 0800-0830 — Arrival and safety walkthrough. Crew confirms drop zone, identifies hazards (hydro lines, gas meter, septic field, neighbouring property), and sets up lawn-protection boards where needed.
2. 0830-0900 — PPE and equipment setup. Climbing harness, helmet, chainsaw, ropes, chipper, and (if required) crane positioning.
3. 0900-1130 — Climbing and sectional dismantling. The climber ascends, ties in, and works the tree from the top down. Each section is roped to a ground crew who feeds brush into the chipper and stacks wood rounds. For large trees or hazardous conditions, the crane lifts whole sections to a drop zone for ground processing.
4. 1130-1200 — Stump grinding (if included). Grind to 4-6 inches below grade (deeper if replanting in same spot).
5. 1200-1230 — Cleanup and walkthrough. Rake the work area, sweep the driveway, walk through with the homeowner to confirm the job is complete. Wood rounds hauled or stacked as agreed.

Total on-site time for a single mature tree: typically 4 hours. Larger trees or crane work can run a full day. Multi-tree jobs are typically more efficient per-tree because the chipper and crew are already on site.

Step 9 — Replacement tree planted or in-lieu fee paid

Within 12 months of removal:

• Plant a replacement tree of an approved species. We recommend species adapted to Aurora's USDA zone 5b: sugar maple, red oak, white oak, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock, basswood, ironwood, serviceberry. We can coordinate planting through our network if you'd prefer not to source the sapling yourself.
• OR pay the in-lieu cash contribution to the Town's tree-replacement fund. The Town uses these funds to plant trees in public spaces.

The Town verifies replacement plantings during routine canvassing. Failure to fulfill the obligation can result in fines under By-Law 6362-21.

Get started with a written quote

The first step in the process is the assessment. Describe your tree by phone, email, or form — we'll send a written itemized quote within 24 hours that includes ISA certification, insurance verification, permit handling, and estimated replacement-tree obligation. No high-pressure in-person sales visits.

Get a free written quote within 24 hours

Sources

• Town of Aurora — Private Tree By-Law 6362-21 (permit thresholds, exemption categories, fee schedule, replacement-tree obligations)
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) (certification standard for the lead arborist on every removal)
• Ontario One Call (statutory locate request under OUINSA 2012 before below-grade work)
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) — Emerald Ash Borer regulated area (rules on ash wood movement)
• Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) (ANSI A300 standards applied to all pruning and removal work)

This guide is reviewed quarterly against Town of Aurora by-law updates and our partner-network operational data. Last full source check: 2026-05-26.