How to Choose a Tree Service in Florida

Florida has no state licence for tree work, so the checking falls to you. Four checks, the official places to do them, and the warning signs.

Last reviewed by TreeServicesNear.me. General information for Florida homeowners, not legal advice.

The four checks

  • Florida has no state licence for tree work, so nobody has checked a tree company before it reaches your door. The checking is yours to do.
  • 1. Insurance: a certificate of general liability and workers' compensation, sent to you by the insurer.
  • 2. Registration: an active record on Sunbiz and a local business tax receipt.
  • 3. Reviews: read the newest ones, looking for damage, no-shows and price changes.
  • 4. A written quote: what is removed, whether the stump and clean-up are included, and the total.

1. Ask for proof of insurance

Tree work is dangerous, and it happens over your roof, your fence and your neighbour's car. Two kinds of insurance matter:

  • General liability pays for damage to property.
  • Workers' compensation pays for a worker's injuries.

Ask the company to have its insurance agent send the certificate of insurance straight to you. A certificate that comes from the agent is much harder to fake than a photo on a phone. Check that the policy dates cover your job.

Workers' compensation needs a closer look. Florida requires it for construction businesses with one or more employees and for other businesses with four or more, so a small tree crew can legally operate without it. You can search any company on the state's proof of coverage database. A result showing an exemption means an owner has opted out of cover for themselves; it does not cover the crew. If a worker without cover is hurt in your yard, the claim may be made against you or your homeowner's policy, so ask your own insurer where you would stand before you hire an uncovered crew.

2. Check the business is registered

Look the company up on Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations register. You are looking for an active status, a name that matches the quote, and how long the business has existed. Then ask for the company's local business tax receipt from the city or county it works in.

Local rules still govern the work itself, such as bans on topping and permits for protected trees. The official tree page for your area, where we have found one, is linked in the Florida tree permit guide.

If a company says it has an ISA Certified Arborist, ask for the certification number and check it on the ISA's verify a credential page. The credential belongs to a person, not a company, so ask whether that person will be on your job. More in what a certified arborist does.

3. Read the recent reviews

A star rating tells you little on its own. Sort the reviews by newest and read the last dozen. Look for the things that go wrong on tree jobs: damage that was not put right, crews that did not turn up, a price that changed on the day, and debris left behind. Notice how the company replies to complaints.

Listings on TreeServicesNear.me show each company's Google rating and number of reviews and link to the reviews on Google. The ratings are Google's, not ours.

4. Get it in writing

A written quote protects both sides. It should state:

  • which trees, and exactly what is being done to each
  • whether the stump is ground, and how deep
  • whether wood, branches and chips are hauled away
  • who applies for a permit if one is needed
  • the total price and when payment is due

Get three quotes where you can. To judge whether the numbers are in the right range, see the tree removal cost guide and the stump grinding cost guide.

Warning signs

  • They knocked on your door, especially in the days after a storm.
  • Cash only, or full payment before the work.
  • No written quote, or pressure to decide on the spot.
  • They offer to "top" a tree or give a palm a "hurricane cut". Both practices damage the tree and are signs of an untrained crew. See the pruning guide.
  • Climbing spikes on a tree that is being pruned. Spikes wound a living tree and are meant only for trees being removed.
  • No helmets or eye protection on the crew.
  • A price far below every other quote.

If something goes wrong

Raise it with the company in writing first, with photos. If that fails, you can file a complaint with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the state's consumer complaint service, on 1-800-435-7352. For damage, contact the company's liability insurer using the details on the certificate you were sent. During a declared state of emergency, report price gouging to the Florida Attorney General on 1-866-966-7226.

Common questions

Do tree services need a licence in Florida?

There is no statewide licence for tree trimming or tree removal in Florida. A tree company needs to be a registered business and to hold a local business tax receipt, but no state board tests or licenses the people doing the work. That is why checking insurance and registration yourself matters: no state board has done it for you.

What insurance should a Florida tree service have?

General liability insurance, which pays for damage to your property or a neighbour's, and workers' compensation, which pays if a worker is hurt. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent to you directly by the company's insurance agent, and check the dates. You can also look up workers' compensation cover on the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation proof of coverage database.

How do I check that a tree company is a real business in Florida?

Search the company name on Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations register, and confirm its status is active. Then ask for its local business tax receipt, which every business operating in a Florida city or county has to hold.

How many quotes should I get for tree work?

Three written quotes is a sensible number. Each should name the trees, say whether the stump is ground and whether the wood and debris are hauled away, and give one total price. Be cautious about a quote far below the others: the usual reason is no insurance.

Should I pay a tree service up front?

No. A modest deposit on a large job is normal. Paying in full before the work is finished is not, and a demand for full payment in cash is a warning sign, especially from someone who knocked on your door after a storm.

Does TreeServicesNear.me vet the companies it lists?

No. TreeServicesNear.me is a directory. Listings show each company's public details, such as its phone number, website and Google rating. We do not check licences, insurance or workmanship, so make the four checks on this page before you hire anyone.

Sources

The facts on this page come from the sources below. Follow the links to read them in full.

  1. Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz): business search: confirming a company is registered and active
  2. Florida Division of Workers' Compensation: proof of coverage database: looking up whether a company has workers' compensation cover or an exemption
  3. Florida Division of Workers' Compensation: coverage requirements: which businesses must carry workers' compensation
  4. International Society of Arboriculture: verify a credential: checking that an arborist's certification is current
  5. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: file a complaint: the state's consumer complaint service

Find a tree company near you

TreeServicesNear.me lists tree companies town by town across Florida, with their phone number, website and Google rating. The busiest towns:

See every Florida county and town or search by town, county or ZIP code.

Find a Local Tree Company

We are a directory, not a broker. Find a Florida tree company and contact it directly. We do not vet the companies listed, so make your own checks before you hire.

Search the directory
Services we cover:
Tree Removal | Tree Trimming | Stump Grinding | Emergency Service | Arborist Consultations