What is an Arborist Report and when do you need one?

An Arborist Report is a formal assessment by a certified arborist of a tree's health, safety, and structural condition. The four situations where you need one in San Mateo County: Tree removal permits - most cities (Menlo Park, Atherton, Hillsborough, Burlingame, Palo Alto) require a certified arborist report before issuing a permit for mature or protected species Development applications - planning departments require a tree impact assessment for construction or renovation near trees, documenting affected trees and protection measures Insurance claims - adjusters request professional documentation when a tree has caused damage or liability is disputed; request the assessment before the scene is cleaned up Commercial real estate and HOAs - property managers need risk assessments and written records for liability protection and insurance purposes Cities, courts, and insurers accept reports from ISA Certified Arborists - ours is #WE-12520A - and routinely reject informal letters from unqualified crews. Ask for the certification number before commissioning a report anywhere.

An Arborist Report is a formal assessment by a certified arborist of a tree’s health, safety, and structural condition. The four situations where you need one in San Mateo County:

Tree removal permits – most cities (Menlo Park, Atherton, Hillsborough, Burlingame, Palo Alto) require a certified arborist report before issuing a permit for mature or protected species
Development applications – planning departments require a tree impact assessment for construction or renovation near trees, documenting affected trees and protection measures
Insurance claims – adjusters request professional documentation when a tree has caused damage or liability is disputed; request the assessment before the scene is cleaned up
Commercial real estate and HOAs – property managers need risk assessments and written records for liability protection and insurance purposes

Cities, courts, and insurers accept reports from ISA Certified Arborists – ours is #WE-12520A – and routinely reject informal letters from unqualified crews. Ask for the certification number before commissioning a report anywhere.