Nanaimo Tree Removal FAQ

In the City of Nanaimo you can remove up to four non-significant trees per calendar year without a permit under Bylaw 7126. You need one beyond four, for significant or heritage trees, and for any tree in a riparian area or Development Permit Area. On rural property in the Regional District of Nanaimo, RDN Development Permit Areas (Bylaw No. 500) cover steep slopes and watercourses, and Lantzville and Gabriola Island have their own rules. We confirm which of those your tree falls under when we quote.

Most single-tree removals we do run $500 to $2,500, from about $300 for a small tree up to $3,500 or more when it is large or tight against a structure. Height, trunk diameter, lean, site access, how close the tree stands to a structure, and disposal all drive what you pay. Stump grinding adds roughly $100 to $400 per stump, and an emergency call-out adds about 25% to 50%. We quote every job free and itemized before any work begins.

We carry WorkSafeBC coverage and commercial liability insurance on every job, and bring in an ISA-certified arborist to assess hazard or heritage trees before work starts. That paperwork travels with the crew, ready to show before anyone climbs a tree.

We prioritize storm and emergency jobs — including leaning, uprooted, or fallen trees after Vancouver Island windstorms — ahead of scheduled work, usually at a 25% to 50% premium, and we always finish with full cleanup and debris haul-away. For a tree on a power line, stay back at least 10 metres, call 911, and report the line to BC Hydro.

We cover the City of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Cedar, Yellow Point, Cassidy, Nanoose Bay, Extension, and Gabriola Island — the full Regional District of Nanaimo, including ferry-access work on Gabriola.

Felling leaves a stump at ground level. Stump grinding is a separate add-on we offer, chipping the stump 15 to 30 cm below grade so you can replant, re-landscape, or pave the area, usually $100 to $400 per stump depending on diameter and access. On request, we can also fully excavate the root ball, though it costs more and disturbs surrounding ground.

We remove trees year-round, and we deal with dead or hazardous trees any time of year. We do most pruning in late-fall to winter dormancy, and we time work around the spring bird-nesting season under the Migratory Birds Convention Act.

Usually yes, when the tree has damaged an insured structure — that's how most storm jobs get paid for. We give you an itemized invoice and photos of the damage for your claim, and your insurer confirms what your specific policy covers.

Yes — we chip the brush and haul the debris away as standard. On request, we can also cut firewood to length and leave it on site.