Calgary arborist: tree cutting and removal

Confirm ownership and approval before booking

Start with ownership if the tree stands beside a sidewalk or road. Calgary prohibits unauthorized pruning, cutting and removal of City trees. Contact 311 if you need to establish whether the tree belongs to the City. Its Tree Protection Bylaw does not apply to trees growing on private property; that distinction does not establish whether another project approval applies. [3]

For a public tree adjacent to your property, obtain written approval before hiring someone to prune or remove it. The City provides a permitted-contractor list and an alternative route for contractors who meet its stated requirements. Those requirements include an ISA Certified Arborist, five million dollars each in auto and general liability insurance, a WCB Clearance Letter and a Certificate of Recognition from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. Additional inspection requirements apply when an aerial unit is needed. [3]

For your own tree, ask the person assessing it to explain why they recommend pruning, removal or further inspection. Describe your goal: clearing a roof, addressing a damaged limb, preserving the tree or making room for a project. Request a written explanation before authorizing removal if you want to explore retaining it.

Resolve power-line responsibility first

ENMAX warns that electricity can arc to nearby branches without direct contact. If a tree or branch damages a power line, stay back and call 911. Do not remove branches or debris from wires. [2]

ENMAX manages vegetation hazards around its electrical infrastructure. Homeowners are responsible for trimming around private or non-ENMAX lines, including lines between a home and garage. ENMAX recommends certified utility tree trimmers for this work. Ask its team at 403-514-3459 to identify uncertain line ownership before you arrange a contractor. [2]

Mention overhead wires when requesting an assessment, even if you only want stump work or removal of another tree. Ask the contractor to explain equipment access and any utility coordination before quoting. Describe the site from a safe location rather than approaching wires to measure distances.

Schedule elm pruning and specify wood disposal

Calgary's Dutch elm disease guidance states that the provincial elm pruning ban runs from April 1 through September 30. It directs homeowners to prune between October and March. October 10, 2026 falls within that window. Ask the arborist to identify the species before confirming the appointment. [1]

The City advises homeowners to dispose of elm material immediately for burial at City landfills. It prohibits storing elm throughout the year unless someone removes the bark or treats the wood by kiln drying. Include a disposal plan in the quote rather than asking the crew to leave untreated elm logs for firewood. [1]

Contact 311 if you see signs of Dutch elm disease. The City describes symptoms including wilting green leaves, shrivelled brown leaves clinging to branches and yellow leaves dropping prematurely. Ask for an assessment rather than treating leaf colour alone as a reason to remove the tree. [1]

Compare the complete job and cleanup

Give each contractor the same description and request separate scope lines for tree work, stump treatment and cleanup. For pruning, identify the branches or clearance goal you want assessed. For removal, specify whether you want the stump left, ground or addressed under a separate quote. Ask for the proposed grinding depth, handling of chips and condition of the finished ground.

Describe gate openings, steps, parking access and nearby structures. Ask how the crew will protect surfaces, move wood out and manage access during the work. Request current insurance documentation and ask who will supervise the crew. Put exclusions, payment terms and the process for approving extra work in writing.

Calgary's published 2026 residential disposal rates include yard waste at CAD 50 per tonne and basic sanitary waste, which includes sod, at CAD 113 per tonne. For chargeable or mixed free-and-charge loads under 250 kilograms, the City applies a CAD 25 flat fee. At 250 kilograms or more, it charges the entire load by weight at the highest applicable rate. City staff determine material acceptance, customer classification and charges. [4]

Use those fees to discuss sorting and disposal with your contractor. They do not establish a tree-removal price or the charge for contractor hauling. Ask whether the quote includes loading, transport and disposal, and whether the contractor will leave logs, chips or branches for you to handle. [4]

Calgary residential disposal rates by material, 2026

Choose the next step before requesting a cutting date

Your hiring checklist

1. Describe the outcome you want and ask the arborist to identify the tree species.
2. Resolve uncertain tree ownership before authorizing pruning or removal.
3. Tell the contractor about overhead wires and establish who will coordinate utility questions.
4. Request separate scope lines for pruning or removal, stump work and debris handling.
5. Ask for current insurance documents and the name of the person supervising the work.
6. Agree on access, surface protection and the condition of the site after cleanup.
7. Confirm the destination and handling plan for elm wood.
8. Record exclusions, payment terms and approval of extra work in the written agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need City approval to remove a tree?

For a public tree adjacent to your property, obtain written approval before arranging removal. Calgary's Tree Protection Bylaw does not apply to private-property trees. If removal forms part of construction, confirm the project's requirements rather than assuming that private ownership resolves all approvals. [3]

Can I prune my elm in October?

Yes. Calgary directs homeowners to prune elms between October and March, outside the April 1 through September 30 provincial ban. Confirm the species and follow the City's guidance to dispose of elm material immediately for burial at City landfills. The City prohibits storing elm year-round unless the bark has been removed or the wood has been kiln dried. [1]

Will ENMAX trim branches beside the line to my garage?

ENMAX says homeowners are responsible for private or non-ENMAX lines, including lines between a home and garage. It recommends certified utility tree trimmers. Contact ENMAX at 403-514-3459 if ownership is uncertain. [2]

Does free autumn yard-waste disposal make contractor cleanup free?

The City describes the seasonal offer as a residential-household program. Do not apply it to contractor hauling without confirmation. Ask the contractor to quote loading, transport and disposal separately, and confirm whether you will retain any debris. [5]