When do I need an arborist report in the GTA?

Most GTA municipalities require an arborist report when construction, renovation, or demolition could affect a protected tree. In Toronto, this applies to any private tree 30 cm in diameter or larger. In Oakville and Burlington, the threshold is 15 cm. If you're applying for a building permit, site plan approval, minor variance, or tree removal permit, you'll almost certainly need one.

What is a Board Certified Master Arborist?

The BCMA is the highest credential in arboriculture, awarded by the International Society of Arboriculture. It requires demonstrated mastery across tree biology, risk assessment, preservation, pathology, soil science, and professional standards. Fewer than 40 arborists in Ontario hold this designation.

How long does it take to get an arborist report?

For most residential and infill development projects, turnaround is five to seven business days from the site visit. Urgent timelines can often be accommodated. The site visit itself typically takes a half day for standard urban lots.

Do I need an arborist for a laneway suite or garden suite?

Yes. Laneway suites and garden suites in Toronto almost always involve trees on your property or neighbouring properties within the zone of influence. Toronto Urban Forestry requires an arborist report and tree protection plan as part of the permit application. Getting an arborist involved at the concept stage prevents expensive redesigns when tree constraints surface later.

What is the difference between a consulting arborist and a tree removal company?

A consulting arborist provides independent professional assessment, documentation, and expert advice. Unlike tree removal companies, a consulting arborist does not sell tree care services. The role is to give objective recommendations based on what the trees need and what your project requires. That independence matters when reports need to hold up under municipal review or in legal proceedings.

What areas do you serve?

Brent Hocking Consulting Arborist serves the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe, including Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Brampton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, and surrounding municipalities. Each municipality has different tree preservation bylaws and submission requirements.

Building New Homes in Ontario? You Need an Arborist Before You Break Ground.

Ontario just unlocked $8.8 billion to accelerate housing construction. Development charges are being cut in half. The HST on new homes is gone. Projects that were stalled are about to move. But every single one of them requires arborist reports, tree protection plans, and municipal permit compliance before a shovel touches dirt.

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Effective April 1, 2026: Full HST removed on new homes under $1M. Development charges cut 50% for 3 years. Expect a surge in construction starts across the GTA.

What Just Changed for Housing in Ontario

On March 30, 2026, the federal and Ontario governments signed the most significant housing investment in a generation. These measures are designed to get shovels in the ground faster, and they will.

$8.8B

Federal and provincial investment to cut development charges over 10 years

50%

Reduction in municipal development charges for the next 3 years

$130k

Maximum HST savings on new homes under $1M (for one year starting April 1)

8,000+

Additional housing starts projected for next year alone

The Ontario Home Builders' Association called this "historic." The housing minister acknowledged the industry has been stalled and predicted the spring market will deliver strong results. Combined, these measures could save buyers up to $200,000 per home in taxes and fees.

The construction surge is coming. And every new project triggers municipal tree bylaws.

Why Every Ontario Development Project Needs a Consulting Arborist

Almost every municipality in Ontario has tree protection bylaws. If there are trees on or adjacent to a development site, you cannot obtain a building permit without arborist involvement. This is not optional.

Arborist Reports for Development Applications

Required by municipalities including Toronto, Hamilton, Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Brampton, and Vaughan when applying for building permits on sites with trees. The report inventories all trees, assesses their condition, identifies protected specimens, and outlines preservation strategies. Without it, your application does not move forward.

Tree Protection Plans

A construction-specific plan showing which trees will be preserved, the tree protection zones (TPZs) for each, the type and location of protective hoarding, and how construction activities will avoid damaging root systems. Municipal urban forestry departments review these before issuing permits. They need to be thorough, accurate, and defensible.

Tree Risk Assessment (TRAQ)

TRAQ-qualified assessments identify trees that pose structural or health risks on development sites. Essential for liability management during construction and for making defensible recommendations about tree retention or removal. Not every arborist holds the TRAQ qualification. I do.

AirSpading and Root Investigation

When construction encroaches on a tree protection zone, exploratory excavation of roots is often required before the municipality will approve the work. Air spading uses compressed air to safely expose roots without cutting them, allowing for informed decisions about construction feasibility. I carry dedicated Air Spade equipment specifically for this work.

Construction Monitoring and Site Supervision

Municipalities may require periodic arborist site visits during construction to ensure tree protection measures remain intact. I provide scheduled monitoring, document compliance, and address issues before they become violations that stall your project.

Design-Phase Consulting for Architects and Developers

The most effective (and cost-efficient) time to involve an arborist is during the design phase, before drawings are finalized. I work directly with architects, landscape architects, and developers to identify tree constraints early, so the building design accommodates the preservation plan rather than fighting it. This approach has the highest rate of smooth permit approvals.

What Happens When Tree Protection Is an Afterthought

Developers who treat arborist requirements as a checkbox instead of a planning tool pay for it. Every time.

Permit Delays

Incomplete or inadequate arborist reports are the single most common reason development applications get sent back for revision. Weeks or months of delays.

Fines & Enforcement

Toronto fines for bylaw violations can reach $100,000 per tree. Other municipalities have similar penalties. Damage to a city-owned street tree triggers additional liability.

Costly Redesigns

Discovering a tree protection conflict after architectural drawings are finalized means expensive redesign. A pre-design arborist consultation prevents this entirely.

Replacement Obligations

If a healthy tree is approved for removal, municipalities typically require three replacement trees per tree removed or cash-in-lieu payments. These add up fast on multi-lot developments.

Why Work With a Board Certified Master Arborist

Not all arborist credentials are equal. The Board Certified Master Arborist designation is the highest credential offered by the International Society of Arboriculture. There are approximately 650 BCMAs worldwide. I am one of them.

BCMA Certification

The most advanced professional credential in arboriculture. Requires extensive experience, demonstrated expertise across all domains of tree care science, and rigorous examination. Your reports carry the weight of the highest available authority.

TRAQ Qualified

Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, the industry standard methodology for evaluating tree risk. Required by many municipalities for construction-related assessments. Ensures defensible, evidence-based recommendations.

Air Spade Equipped

Dedicated Air Spade equipment for non-destructive root investigation and soil decompaction. Most consulting arborists subcontract this work. I do it myself, which means faster turnaround and consistent quality.

Direct Communication

As a sole practitioner, you deal with me directly. No account managers, no hand-offs, no layers. When you call, I answer. When you need a report, I write it. When you need someone on site, I show up.

Serving Municipalities Across the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario

I work across GTA municipalities and understand the specific tree bylaw requirements, urban forestry departments, and permit processes for each. Based in Hamilton, I serve the following areas and beyond:

Get Ahead of the Construction Surge

With thousands of new housing starts coming to Ontario, arborist availability is going to tighten. Get your project's tree requirements handled now, before the rush.