On April 2, 2018, Council approved the licensing of Arborists in Oakville.
Read the by-law for details.
Please visit this page for futher updates and application information which will be posted prior to the effective date of June 1.
In June and October 2017, town staff consulted with stakeholders and the public through open house meetings to discuss various topics relating to an arborist licensing by-law such as safety, regulations and enforcement. Visual display slides from the open house with key facts identified by staff are available for view with the public comments included.
Staff presented a report and draft by-law to Community Services Committee on January 22, 2018. The committee requested staff to report back on training possibilities. A report is expected to be presented back to committee in April 2018.
Please send us your comments at enforcementservices@oakville.ca.
In conjunction with the newly implemented Tree Protection By-Law, the licensing of arborists will provide added protection to the town's urban forest and consumers.
Licensing will be similar to the licensing of existing private industries such as landscapers, pool contractors, HVAC installers and fence installers. Annual licensing of certified arborists, arboricultural companies and tree companies will help protect and enhance the town's urban forest and tree canopy and promote increased accountability of tree removal.
There are several types of services and service providers that may perform tree care within the Town of Oakville. In order to preserve the health of the current tree canopy and ensure that trees are not removed without cause there will be a requirement for arborists to obtain a licence to provide their services within Oakville.
There are three classes proposed that will capture the nature for the work done by arborists and their respective companies.
The classes are as follows:
"Arborist" means a person trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of arboriculture and satisfies at least one of the following requirements:
"Arboriculture Company" means a company with knowledge of all aspects of arboriculture and has staff holding valid certifications in the following areas:
An Arboriculture Company is able to assess health and structure of tree and conduct tree maintenance work.
"Tree Company" means a company capable of removing, pruning, root pruning, cabling (bracing and propping), fertilizing, planting, stumping or transplanting a tree but not able to assess the health of a tree.
A Tree Company must have staff holding valid certifications in the following areas:
Once an Arborist licence is issued there will be no further requirement to apply for additional licensing such as a landscaping licence.
"Landscaping/Tree Company" means a company that undertakes or is engaged in the business of managing lawns/yards including but not limited to; installing sprinkler systems, building retaining walls, constructing patios, digging irrigation and drainage channels, paving or sealing paved driveway surfaces, installing stone, brick or concrete landscapes, plating shrubs, laying sod/grass, erecting fences, seasonal mowing/seeding/thatching/aeration/fertilization/raking, and snow ploughing/snow removal/anti-ice application and that is capable of removing, pruning, root pruning, cabling (bracing and propping) fertilizing, planting, stumping, transplanting a tree but not able to assess the health of a tree. A Landscaping/Tree Company must have staff holding valid certifications in the following areas:
a) Certified Tree Worker
b) Certified Chainsaw Operator