Arborist Report for a Hillsborough Tree Permit

What Hillsborough requires

Required. All protected tree removal permits: HMC 14.04.040(C) (improved land), 14.04.050(B) (unimproved land) and 14.04.030(B) (subdivisions) each require 'An arborist report' with the site plan, reason letter, replacement statement and fee. Hazard track (14.04.040(E)): a 'written opinion from a certified arborist' that the tree must be removed within thirty days, reviewed by a town-qualified arborist. Town's Arborist Report Template (v. 23-07-03): 'An arborist report is a required component of a tree removal permit application.'

Who may write it: 'Certified arborist means an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) with current certification standing ... or an American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) consulting arborist with current membership standing' (14.04.020). Template: report 'shall be completed by a certified arborist, registered with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or American Society of Consulting Arborists.'. No. The Town links the ISA 'Find an Arborist' site (treesaregood.org) and uses a mandatory Arborist Report Template (DocumentCenter/View/5461); 'town-qualified arborist' refers to the Town's own reviewing consultant, billed at actual cost.

“A tree removal permit, issued by the building and planning department, must include the following: 1. A site plan showing the location, species, and size of the tree(s). 2. An arborist report, which shall include a discussion of those matters city council shall consider ... 3. A letter indicating why removal is requested.” municipal code

The rule the report has to address

What the report contains

Written report (PDF) with species and measurements taken as the city's code requires, health and structural findings, photographs, risk rating where relevant, and recommendations that state the justification the city needs to see. For Hillsborough that means measurements taken in diameter at 54″ above grade, the species identified against the city's protected list, the condition and structural findings, and the removal justification the code names, with replacement proposed as the code requires.

Price and turnaround

$750 to $1,250 for one to three trees (site visit, report with the city's required findings, replacement plan); multi-parcel and development reports from $1,650; responses to city comments $350 per round. Reports are delivered 7 to 10 business days after the site visit; responses to Hillsborough comments are $350 per round unless the proposal includes one. Fees are confirmed in writing before the visit.

Full city rules: Tree permits in Hillsborough. Not sure the tree is protected? Run the permit checker.