Tree removal

In Gatineau, removal starts with a piece of paper. Anyone wishing to fell a tree on their property must obtain an authorization certificate from the City before the work begins (Ville de Gatineau, certificat d'autorisation d'abattage), and a breach of the by-law carries a fine. That is the first question to settle, before you even ask for prices.

Step one: is the tree covered. The by-law applies to trees 10 cm or more in diameter measured 1.3 m above the ground (Ville de Gatineau, plantation, entretien et abattage). In practice almost any tree that looks grown up is covered. Measure the circumference at chest height and divide by 3.14: if you get 10 cm or more, you need a certificate.

Step two: do you have an accepted reason. The City does not authorise removal because you dislike the tree. The grounds include a tree that is dead, has an incurable disease, is infested by insects threatening its survival, or is dangerous; a tree causing damage to the property; a tree creating an unreasonable nuisance; a tree hindering the growth of neighbouring trees of greater value; a tree within 1 m of the foundation of an existing building; a tree interfering with a structure or construction; and a tree interfering with the installation or maintenance of a septic system (Ville de Gatineau, plantation, entretien et abattage). A serious contractor will tell you frankly whether your situation fits one of those.

Step three: replacement. A felled tree has to be replaced if the lot no longer meets the minimum tree requirements, or if the removal makes room for construction such as an accessory building, a pool or a fence. The replacement tree must be at least 2.5 m for a broadleaf or 1.5 m for a conifer (Ville de Gatineau, plantation, entretien et abattage). That cost belongs in the project rather than arriving as a surprise at the end.

Step four: the method. Where there is room, the tree is felled in one piece in a controlled direction, with a directional notch and a hinge. Near a house, a pool, a shed or wires, it is dismantled in sections: the climber goes up on rope, cuts pieces that are lowered on a line, then the trunk comes down in lengths. Dismantling costs more because it takes three to five times as long.

Step five: the wood and the clean-up. Brush goes through the chipper and the trunk is cut into rounds. Decide at the quote whether the wood stays on site as logs, is split, or is hauled away entirely, because the price difference is real. The stump stays unless grinding is scheduled for the same day, which costs less than a second visit.

How long it takes. A small tree with room around it is one to two hours. A medium tree is half a day. A large tree dismantled in sections beside a house is a full day, sometimes two with a crane. The authorization certificate comes from the City, online or by calling 311, and its processing time belongs in your schedule.

What it costs in 2026. Indicative Quebec ranges. Removing a small tree under 9 m runs $260 to $520. A medium tree of 9 to 18 m runs $520 to $1,030. A large tree over 18 m runs $1,030 to $2,580 and up. Stump grinding is extra, $100 to $1,030 per stump, and the City certificate is extra as well. What raises the bill: sectional dismantling rather than straight felling, a crane, proximity to wires, yard access, and full removal of the wood.

What is particular to the region. Two things. First the emerald ash borer, which has killed a large share of the ash in the Outaouais. A dead ash is brittle and unpredictable and has to be dismantled rather than climbed, which costs more than a healthy tree of the same size. Second, the storms. After the 2018 tornado and the 2022 derecho, many trees in this region carry internal wounds, split unions and lifted roots that cannot be seen from the ground, and those are exactly the trees that come down in the next storm.

Who may fell a tree, and which card to ask for. Since 8 June 2026, any worker performing arboriculture work in Quebec must hold an arboriculture qualification certificate of the appropriate class, or a valid apprenticeship record, under the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (APSAM, report au 8 juin 2026 (RSST art. 312.103)). Predetermined felling outside forests is explicitly covered by the ARBO certificate (Québec, certificat en arboriculture (ARBO)). The SIAQ's ISA Certified Arborist credential (SIAQ, about certification) is a professional competence on top of that, checkable in their directory. Also ask for the CNESST compliance certificate and liability insurance, because a tree landing on a roof is a five-figure claim.

What to ask before you hire. Is my tree 10 cm or more in diameter at 1.3 m above the ground. Which ground in the by-law applies. Who applies for the certificate, you or me. Is a replacement tree required, and at what size. Straight felling or sectional dismantling, and why. Does the price include chipping, bucking and full removal. Who holds the arboriculture qualification certificate. May I see the CNESST certificate and proof of insurance.