Hamilton has a lot of big old trees: silver maples and Norway maples on the lower city streets, oaks and walnuts in Ancaster and Dundas, and plenty of dead ash left over from emerald ash borer. Many of them have not been pruned in years. Here is what trimming costs, what kind of pruning you actually need, and the City rules that catch homeowners out.
2026 tree trimming prices in Hamilton
| Job | Typical 2026 price | What it usually involves |
|---|---|---|
| Shrub pruning | $45 - $120 per shrub | Hand pruners and loppers, depends on species and how long since the last cut |
| Cedar hedge shaping | $18 - $32 per linear metre | Trimmed, clippings hauled, edges cleaned up |
| Small tree, under 6 m (about 20 ft) | $240 - $560 | Ladder and pole saw work, no bucket truck |
| Medium tree, 6 to 12 m (20 to 40 ft) | $580 - $1,400 | Climbing with ropes and saddle, or a lift if there is access |
| Large tree, over 12 m (40 ft) | $1,400 - $3,800 | Climbing crew or aerial lift, branches lowered on ropes over roofs and fences |
Every price includes chipping and hauling the branches. What moves a quote up: a tree that has not been pruned in ten years or more, branches hanging over a roof, pool or greenhouse, a backyard with no gate wide enough for the chipper, and dead wood that has turned brittle. What brings it down: doing two or three trees in one visit, easy front-yard access, and keeping the chips for your garden beds. If a tree is too far gone to save, our tree removal pages cover that cost instead.
First, is it your tree or the City's?
This is the question that matters most in Hamilton. The road allowance often runs well past the sidewalk, or several metres into what looks like your front lawn on streets with no sidewalk. A tree growing there belongs to the City, even if a previous owner planted it.
The City's City trees page is blunt about it: you can water a City tree, but do not trim or remove it, regardless of who planted it. Under the Public Tree By-law 15-125, injuring a public tree is an offence, and cutting its branches without permission counts. So if the tree out front needs work, the call goes to the City, not to us.
The good news is that the City does the work at no charge. It routinely prunes trees on City property, including road allowances. Trees in the urban area are pruned about every 7 years, and in rural parts of the city pruning is done by request. You can report a City tree that is dead, has broken or hanging limbs, or has a bee or wasp nest; nests on City trees are removed within 24 hours. The City may also prune your private tree where it hangs over a road or sidewalk, to keep the clearance safe.
If you are not sure where your property line is, your survey or the City's property mapping will show it. We check before quoting any front-yard tree, and if it turns out to be the City's, we tell you and quote only the trees on your side.
Do you need a permit to prune a private tree in Hamilton?
Usually not. Hamilton does not yet have a single private tree by-law for the whole city. A harmonized private tree by-law was out for public consultation in spring 2026 and still has to go to Council. Some older by-laws from before amalgamation still apply in places, mostly to removing trees rather than pruning them. If you live in Ancaster, Dundas or Stoney Creek and your tree is very large or designated as a heritage tree, ask the City before major work.
Pruning a private tree properly does not normally need a permit. Cutting it so hard that it dies is a different matter, and if the tree sits on the line with your neighbour, it is shared property under Ontario's Forestry Act. Injuring a boundary tree without your neighbour's consent is an offence, so get their written agreement before anything more than light trimming.
What kind of pruning does your tree need?
"Trimming" covers several different jobs. A good quote names the one you are getting, because they take different amounts of time and do different things for the tree.
- Deadwood removal. Taking out dead, dying and broken branches. This is the most common job and the safest for the tree, because none of the wood being cut is still feeding it.
- Crown raising. Removing the lowest limbs so you can walk, mow or park under the tree, or so branches stop brushing the roof or the side of the house.
- Crown thinning. Removing some inner branches to let light and wind through. Done lightly, it can cut wind load on a dense tree. Done heavily, it causes a flush of weak sprouts.
- Crown reduction. Shortening long limbs back to a smaller side branch that can take over. This is how a tall tree is made smaller properly. It is slow, careful work and costs more.
- Structural pruning. Shaping a young tree in its first ten years so it grows one strong main stem instead of two competing ones that split later. It is the cheapest tree work you will ever buy.
One thing we will not do is topping: cutting the main stems back to stubs to make a tree shorter. It looks tidy for a season, then the tree sends up dozens of fast, weakly attached shoots and the stubs start to rot. A topped tree usually ends up costing more, and often has to come down.
Trees near hydro lines
Hamilton's Forestry Section does not prune trees back from hydro and communication lines. That is the utility's job. Across most of Hamilton the utility is Alectra, which trims around its lines on a regular cycle and gives notice before working near your property. Alectra's advice is simple: never try to trim a tree growing near or into its lines yourself. Call 1-833-ALECTRA (1-833-253-2872) and they will advise or arrange the work. In rural parts of the city, Hydro One may be the utility instead.
We do not cut branches that are touching or close to a live line. If part of your tree is near a line, we work on the rest of it and you book Alectra for the section near the wire. The wire running from the pole to your house is a common problem, so tell us about it when you ask for a quote.
When to prune in Hamilton
- November to March: the best window for most shade trees. With the leaves off, the structure is easy to see, cuts close well in spring, and there are no nesting birds.
- Oaks: do not prune them from April to July. Fresh cuts attract the beetles that carry oak wilt, a fatal disease Ontario is trying to keep out. Winter is the safe time.
- Maples and birches: they drip sap if cut in late winter. It looks alarming but does no harm. You can also wait until early summer if you prefer.
- Spring-flowering trees such as magnolia, serviceberry and crabapple: prune right after they finish flowering, or you cut off next year's blooms.
- Dead or broken branches: any time. A hanging limb over a driveway or walkway should not wait for the right season.
If heavy pruning has to happen between spring and late summer, the tree must be checked for active nests first. Under the federal nesting period guidance, the main nesting season in southern Ontario runs from about early April to late August, and disturbing an active nest of a protected bird is illegal.
Dead ash and storm damage
Most ash trees in Hamilton were killed by emerald ash borer, and many are still standing. Dead ash dries out and becomes brittle quickly, so limbs drop without warning, especially in wind along the Mountain brow and the lakeshore. At that stage trimming is rarely the answer. We will tell you honestly when a tree needs to come down, and our Hamilton tree removal page covers that cost.
After an ice storm or windstorm, a split leader or a branch hung up in the crown is urgent. Keep people and cars out from under it. If it is resting on a wire, call the utility first, then call us.
What a good trimming quote includes
- Which trees, and which kind of pruning: deadwood, raising, thinning or reduction
- Roughly how much of each crown will come off. On a healthy mature tree, that should rarely be more than about a quarter in one season
- That the crew will cut at the branch collar and not leave stubs, and will not use climbing spikes on a tree that is staying
- Chipping, hauling and raking, or a lower price if you keep the chips
- Proof of liability insurance and WSIB coverage
Where we prune in Hamilton
The lower city, the Mountain, Westdale, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Binbrook and Mount Hope. We also shape hedges and foundation shrubs on the same visit; see our guide to privacy hedges if you are planning new ones.
Hedges too? See hedge trimming in Hamilton including the 0.9 m corner rule.
Frequently asked questions
How much does tree trimming cost in Hamilton?
About $240 to $560 for a small tree, $580 to $1,400 for a medium tree and $1,400 to $3,800 for a large tree over 12 m, cleanup included.
Can I trim the City tree in front of my house?
No. The City says not to trim or remove a tree on City property, even if you planted it. Report it to the City and it will prune it for free.
How often does Hamilton prune street trees?
About every 7 years in the urban area. In rural areas the City prunes on request.
Who trims trees around hydro lines in Hamilton?
The utility, not the City. In most of Hamilton that is Alectra, at 1-833-253-2872. Never trim near a line yourself.
When is the best time to prune trees in Hamilton?
November to March for most trees. Never prune oaks from April to July, because of oak wilt.
Do I need a permit to prune my own tree in Hamilton?
Usually not for proper pruning. A shared boundary tree needs your neighbour's consent, and a heritage tree may need City approval.