Burlington has big, old trees in Aldershot, Roseland, the downtown and along the lakeshore, and the City now pays part of the cost to keep the largest ones healthy. Here is what pruning costs, how the rebate works, and the rules on private trees, City trees and hydro lines.
2026 tree trimming prices in Burlington
| 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 |
Cleanup is always included: branches are chipped and hauled, and the lawn is raked. Older trees that have never been pruned, limbs over a roof or pool, and backyards the chipper cannot reach all push the price up. Grouping trees into one visit brings it down. If you are applying for the City rebate described below, the quote has to be itemized, so ask for that up front.
The City will pay up to $1,000 toward big trees
In April 2026 Burlington Council made the Significant Tree Maintenance Rebate program permanent and doubled its budget to $50,000 a year. It exists to keep large trees standing instead of losing them to neglect. The main terms:
- Which trees: "significant" trees, 75 cm (about 2.5 ft) or more in trunk diameter. To check, measure around the trunk at chest height and divide by 3.14. A trunk about 236 cm (7 ft 9 in) around qualifies.
- Where: residential properties inside the City's urban boundary, where the private tree by-law applies.
- How much: 50% of the maintenance cost before tax, up to $1,000 per tree per property.
- When: the work must be approved by the City before it is done. Work already finished does not count.
- Who goes first: people who have not had a significant tree rebate before. Funding is limited, and the City announces application windows ahead of time.
In the 2025 pilot, the eligible work included crown reduction, deadwood removal, pruning for clearance or to raise the crown, cabling and bracing, deep root fertilizing, soil treatments such as vertical mulching and radial trenching, and advanced risk assessment. The pilot also required a solely owned tree, one per property. Check the current list when the City opens applications, since the permanent program may change the details.
To give you an idea: a $1,600 crown cleaning and reduction on a big silver maple would get $800 back. The same job priced at $2,400 would get the $1,000 maximum. If you think your tree qualifies, ask us for an itemized quote. We will list each task separately so it matches what the City asks for, and we will not start work until your approval email arrives.
Do you need a permit to prune in Burlington?
For private trees in the urban area, Burlington's Private Tree By-law 040-2022 requires a permit to remove trees 20 cm or more across. Pruning no more than one third of a tree's crown needs no permit. A careful job usually takes far less than that; we aim to keep it to about a quarter or less in any one year on a healthy mature tree. Cutting more than a third, or pruning so hard the tree declines, can count as injuring it, and fines under the by-law start at $500.
If the trunk sits on the property line, the tree is shared under Ontario's Forestry Act, and you need your neighbour's consent before work that could harm it. A short signed note from them is usually enough.
City trees are off limits
Trees on the boulevard, in parks and on other City land are protected under Burlington's Public Tree By-law 098-2025. You need City permission for any work on them, including pruning. The City prunes its street trees through a rotating, street-by-street program; if one needs attention, contact Service Burlington at 905-335-7777. We confirm whether a front-yard tree is on your land or the City's before we quote.
Trees near hydro lines
Burlington Hydro trims trees around its lines on a rotating schedule across the city and usually drops off a letter before crews arrive. Never trim near a power line yourself, and do not hire anyone who is willing to. We prune the parts of your tree that are clear of the lines and you contact Burlington Hydro for anything near the wire. In parts of north Burlington the lines may belong to Hydro One instead.
Which pruning job do you need?
| Job | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Deadwood removal | Removes dead, dying and broken branches | Any mature tree, and the usual starting point |
| Crown raising | Removes the lowest limbs | Clearance over driveways, walkways, roofs and lawns |
| Crown thinning | Removes some crowded inner branches | Dense trees that catch a lot of wind; done lightly |
| Crown reduction | Shortens long limbs back to side branches | Big trees that have outgrown the yard; a rebate-eligible task |
| Structural pruning | Sets one main stem on a young tree | Trees under about 15 years old |
| Cabling and bracing | Supports weak forks with steel cable or rods | Large trees with a split-prone fork; a rebate-eligible task |
Topping, which means cutting the main stems back to stubs, is never on the list. It causes weak regrowth and decay, and it is the opposite of what the City's rebate is meant to pay for.
When to prune in Burlington
- November to March: the best time for most trees. Dormant trees recover well, the branch structure is easy to see, and no birds are nesting.
- Oaks: do not prune them from April to July, because fresh cuts attract the beetles that spread oak wilt. Burlington's rebate pilot was even stricter, treating April 1 to October 31 as the window to avoid for oak pruning. Winter is safest.
- Silver and Norway maples: common in older Burlington neighbourhoods. They grow fast, drop limbs in storms and often need deadwood removal and reduction. Late winter sap bleeding is harmless.
- Flowering trees and lilacs: prune right after flowering.
- Fruit trees: prune in late winter, before the buds break.
For heavy pruning between early April and late August, the crew should check for active nests first. The federal nesting period guidance puts the main nesting season in that window.
Rebate or removal?
The rebate only helps a tree that can be saved. A mature tree with a cracked main stem, heavy decay at the base or more than half its crown dead is usually past the point where pruning helps, and the rebate will not change that. We will tell you which it is. If removal is the right call, our Burlington tree removal page covers the City's permit fees and replacement rules.
What a good trimming quote includes
- Each tree and the type of pruning, itemized so it can support a rebate application
- Roughly what share of the crown comes off, staying well under the one third limit
- Proper cuts at the branch collar, no stubs, no topping, and no climbing spikes on a tree that is staying
- Chipping, hauling and cleanup
- Insurance and WSIB coverage
Where we prune in Burlington
Aldershot, Roseland, downtown, the lakeshore, Tyandaga, Brant Hills, Headon Forest, Millcroft, Orchard and Alton Village. If lights go into your trees each December, our Burlington Christmas light installation page covers hanging them without damaging the branches.
Hedges too? See hedge trimming in Burlington including fixing overgrown cedars.
Frequently asked questions
How much does tree trimming cost in Burlington?
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.
Does Burlington pay for tree pruning?
For significant trees 75 cm or more across in the urban area, the City's rebate covers 50% of the cost before tax, up to $1,000 per tree, if the work is approved before it starts.
Do I need a permit to prune a tree in Burlington?
No, as long as you prune no more than one third of the crown of a private tree. Removing a tree 20 cm or more across in the urban area needs a permit.
Can I trim the City tree in front of my house?
Not without City permission. Boulevard trees are protected under the Public Tree By-law. Call Service Burlington at 905-335-7777.
When is the best time to prune trees in Burlington?
November to March for most trees. Avoid pruning oaks from April to July, and preferably until November.
Who trims trees near hydro lines in Burlington?
Burlington Hydro trims around its own lines on a rotating schedule. Never trim near a line yourself.