The 5 Best Arborists in Vancouver (2026): How We Compared Them

A note before you read: this guide is written by Devine Arboricultural Solutions, and we’ve ranked ourselves first. We know that’s a reason to be sceptical. To keep it fair, we used only criteria you can check yourself, took every fact about the other companies from their own published information, and explain below where each one may suit you better than we would.

How We Ranked Them

In Metro Vancouver, much of what you need from an arborist is assessment, not just cutting. Vancouver, North Vancouver and Port Moody all require permits and arborist reports for many tree removals, and hazardous tree permits often need a formally qualified risk assessor. So we ranked on four things:

1. Published, verifiable credentials. Does the company state its ISA certification, and can you check it? Do its arborists hold the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) or a consulting credential?
2. Assessment and reporting services. Can it write the arborist reports, risk assessments and appraisals that permits and insurers ask for?
3. Local focus. Does it have a base here, and does it cover your area?
4. Fit for different needs. Every company here is legitimate. The question is which one suits your property and your problem.

We deliberately left out review scores and prices. Both change constantly, and you’ll get a more accurate picture by checking current Google reviews and getting two or three quotes yourself.

1. Devine Arboricultural Solutions

Best for: permit work, tree risk assessments, and homeowners who want advice from the owner

Devine is a family owned arborist business based in East Vancouver. It serves Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Moody and Coquitlam. Its owner, Tiger Devine, has worked as an arborist since 2004.

Why it ranks first on our criteria:

• Credentials you can check. Devine publishes its ISA Certified Arborist number (#P8007A), which you can look up in the ISA’s public directory. Few local companies publish theirs.
• Risk and wildlife qualifications. Tiger is TRAQ qualified and a certified Wildlife and Tree Danger Assessor (#P2350). TRAQ matters for hazard permits, and Port Moody only issues hazardous tree removal permits when a TRAQ qualified arborist confirms the risk.
• The full assessment toolkit. Devine offers arborist reports, tree risk assessments and tree appraisals, and is a Qualified Tree Appraiser, alongside pruning, removal and emergency work.
• Teaching credentials. Tiger is an industry trainer and the business is Climate Smart certified.

Worth knowing: Devine is a small business, so peak season (fall through spring) books up. If you need a large crew for a commercial site at short notice, a bigger firm may suit you better.

2. Arbutus Tree Service

Best for: preserving mature trees on Vancouver’s West Side

Arbutus has served Vancouver since 1990, longer than any other independent company on this list, and describes its approach as preservation first. It focuses on the West Side, including Kerrisdale, Dunbar, Southlands, Point Grey and UBC.

Strengths:

• All staff are ISA Certified Arborists or working toward certification
• Multiple arborists with TRAQ, and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborists on staff, a consulting credential few local firms hold
• Pruning to ANSI A300 standards, with spurless climbing that avoids wounding trees that are being kept

Worth knowing: its focus on the West Side is a strength if you live there and a limitation if you don’t.

3. Silverback Treeworks

Best for: wide coverage from Vancouver to the Sea to Sky corridor

Silverback is a locally owned company that has served Greater Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor since 2007. It has work yards in Squamish, North Vancouver and Burnaby.

Strengths:

• A team of ISA certified arborists
• Removal, pruning, hedge trimming, stump grinding, plant health care and arborist reports
• Three yards, which suits properties spread between the city, the North Shore and Squamish

Worth knowing: if you have property in both Vancouver and the Sea to Sky area, Silverback is one of the few local firms covering both.

4. Bartlett Tree Experts

Best for: science based plant health care

Bartlett was founded in 1907 and runs a Burnaby office serving the Vancouver area, plus a Delta office covering South Vancouver and Richmond. It describes itself as a scientific tree and shrub care company with its own research facility.

Strengths:

• ISA certified arborists backed by an in house research program
• An integrated approach to managing insects and diseases, along with fertilization, cabling and bracing
• The resources of a large international company

Worth knowing: Bartlett is strongest when the problem is tree health, such as a declining specimen, pests or disease, rather than routine removals.

5. Davey Tree

Best for: larger properties that want an established national provider

Davey traces its origins to 1880, is employee owned, and has operated in Canada since 1930, with a Vancouver office on West 75th Avenue.

Strengths:

• ISA certified arborists for residential and commercial work
• A consulting division, Davey Resource Group, offering urban forestry and environmental services
• Depth and continuity for stratas, institutions and commercial properties with ongoing needs

Worth knowing: a national company brings scale and systems, but you may deal with a different arborist each visit.

At a Glance

Company	Serving since	Credentials published	Best for
Devine Arboricultural Solutions	Owner arborist since 2004	ISA #P8007A, TRAQ, Wildlife and Tree Danger Assessor, Qualified Tree Appraiser	Permits, risk assessments, owner led advice
Arbutus Tree Service	1990	ISA, TRAQ, ASCA Registered Consulting Arborists	West Side tree preservation
Silverback Treeworks	2007	ISA certified team	Vancouver and Sea to Sky coverage
Bartlett Tree Experts	1907 (company)	ISA certified arborists	Plant health care
Davey Tree	1880 (company)	ISA certified arborists	Larger and commercial properties

How to Choose the Right Arborist

Whichever company you call, these checks protect you:

• Ask for the ISA certification number of the arborist assessing your tree, then look it up in the ISA’s Find an Arborist directory. A company being “certified” isn’t the same as the person on your property being certified.
• If you need a hazard permit, ask about TRAQ. Port Moody requires a TRAQ qualified arborist for hazardous tree removal permits, and the District of North Vancouver relies on a qualified tree risk assessor.
• Ask who writes the report and who does the work. The best results come when the person who assessed the tree understands how it will be pruned or removed.
• Confirm insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage before any work begins.
• Check the permit rules first. Rules differ a lot between municipalities. Our guides to arborist reports in Vancouver, tree permits in North Vancouver and tree permits in Port Moody explain each one.

If you’re unsure what your tree needs, an arborist consultation is a low cost way to get a straight answer before committing to any work.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing an Arborist in Vancouver

What’s the difference between an arborist and a tree service?
An arborist is trained in tree biology, pruning standards and risk assessment, and an ISA Certified Arborist has passed the International Society of Arboriculture’s exam. A tree service may or may not employ certified arborists, so it’s worth asking.

How do I check if an arborist is certified?
Ask for their ISA certification number and look it up in the ISA’s public Find an Arborist directory. The City of Vancouver links to the same directory from its tree bylaw page.

Do I need a certified arborist for a tree permit in Vancouver?
Yes. The City of Vancouver asks for an arborist report from an ISA certified arborist with tree removal permit applications, and with development permit applications on sites with trees 20 cm or more in diameter.

What is TRAQ and when does it matter?
TRAQ is the ISA’s Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. It matters most when a tree may be hazardous, because some municipalities, including Port Moody, require a TRAQ qualified arborist to confirm the risk before issuing a hazardous tree removal permit.

Should I choose a local company or a national one?
Local independents tend to offer more continuity, often with the owner involved in your job. National firms offer scale and specialist plant health programs. Choose based on whether your need is assessment and advice, routine care, or a complex health problem.