A tree between 60 and 80 feet stands well above every roofline on the street. In the west GTA this range is dominated by mature silver maples, the big Norway maples planted after the war, old white pines and spruces, and unfortunately a lot of very large, very dead ash. Removals at this height are technical work. The whole tree comes down piece by piece, with a climber or lift in the canopy, rigging points set above each cut, and every section lowered under control, because at this size nothing lands harmlessly. We do this work across Toronto, Etobicoke, Oakville, Burlington, and the wider west GTA, on lots where the canopy spreads over two or three properties at once. Plan for a full day on site, sometimes two, and for the permit question to be a near certainty, since trunks at this height are usually far past every municipal threshold. Our free written quote covers the dismantling plan, wood handling, cleanup, and permit path in one number. If you are collecting quotes for a tree this size, compare plans and not just prices, and be wary of anyone willing to quote it without standing under it.
What's included
- A detailed site assessment covering the tree's condition, the rigging plan, equipment positioning, and everything in the fall zone, with the plan explained to you in plain language.
- DBH measured and the bylaw position confirmed for your municipality, with the permit path mapped out before any date is booked.
- Top-down dismantling by an experienced climber or from a lift, with rigging set so each limb and trunk section is lowered under control, never free-dropped over targets.
- Heavy trunk sections managed with rigging and lowering gear sized to the wood, because a single log at this height can weigh as much as a car.
- A dedicated ground crew running ropes, clearing wood, and keeping the drop zone controlled from the first cut to the last.
- Plywood or mats used to protect lawns and hard surfaces where wood is moved or equipment travels.
- All brush chipped and hauled, with trunk wood hauled off or bucked and stacked as firewood, exactly as agreed in the written quote.
- The stump flush cut low, grinding quoted alongside if wanted, and a full rake, blow down, and walkthrough before we call the job done.
How it works
- Call us and describe the tree. For large removals we always quote in person, and if the tree is hazardous we prioritize the visit, with same-day response during business hours where warranted.
- Free written on-site quote covering the dismantling plan, equipment, wood handling, cleanup, and timeline in one firm number.
- Permit check and paperwork. Trees at this size are over the diameter threshold in nearly every west GTA municipality that has one, so we confirm requirements and can prepare the application with you.
- Removal day or days. We set protection, establish rigging, and work the tree down in sections, with the crew adjusting the plan as the wood reveals its condition.
- Wood and brush handled as agreed, stump flush cut, surfaces cleared and raked, and a final walkthrough with you.
What moves the price above starting at $1,500
- Where the tree stands on the lot. A front yard tree with street access lets us stage equipment and trucks close. A backyard giant behind a garage can double the handling time for the same tree.
- The canopy's spread over structures. Every limb over a roof, garage, pool, or neighbouring property must be rigged and lowered in smaller pieces, and at this height most of the canopy is over something.
- Condition of the wood. Large dead trees, especially EAB-killed ash, are among the most dangerous trees in the trade. Brittle wood limits climbing, changes rigging choices, and can require a lift or crane.
- Whether specialized equipment is needed. Some large removals are climbed conventionally, others need a lift or crane to be done safely, and equipment days carry equipment costs.
- Wires and services. Trees this size frequently involve hydro service drops, communication lines, or proximity to street infrastructure, which adds coordination and sometimes utility involvement before we can start.
- Volume of wood. A 70 foot maple can produce several truckloads of wood and chips. Full haul-away is priced accordingly, and keeping firewood on site brings the total down.
- Permit and replanting conditions. Municipal approvals at this size can carry conditions, and preparing the application and any supporting material adds to the scope where it applies.
Starting at $1,500, quoted in writing before any work starts.
On-site visit, written quote, no obligation. Usually within 24 hours of your call.
When you need this
- A mature silver maple has begun shedding large limbs in summer storms. Big silvers with long overextended limbs over the house are one of the most common serious hazards we see in older Toronto and Etobicoke neighbourhoods.
- A large ash killed by emerald ash borer is still standing. Past the second year dead, ash at this size shed limbs constantly and become progressively less safe to work on, so waiting raises both the risk and the removal cost.
- An old Norway maple is dying back from the top, with thinning foliage, major deadwood, or fungal conks on the trunk. Top-down decline in a tree this size over a house is not a wait-and-see situation.
- A storm has cracked a major lead or partially uprooted the tree, leaving tonnes of wood hanging over your roof or a shared fence line.
- The trunk shows a significant cavity, a lean that has visibly worsened, or heaving soil at the base, all signs the tree's anchorage or structure is failing.
- An arborist report for an insurance company, a sale, or a municipal requirement has identified the tree as a removal, and you need it executed properly with the paperwork to match.
Local notes for the west GTA
A tree at 60 to 80 feet is over the permit threshold almost everywhere in the west GTA that has one. Toronto including Etobicoke requires a permit at 30 cm DBH measured 1.4 metres up, and on ravine-protected land the rules apply to trees of any size under Chapters 813 and 658 of the Toronto Municipal Code, which matters for the many large trees on Etobicoke's ravine lots. Brampton and Hamilton are 30 cm, Burlington 20 cm, Woodbridge 20 cm under Vaughan By-law 177-2025, and Mississauga 15 cm in some zones. Even Oakville's 76 cm circumference threshold, about 24 cm diameter, catches essentially every tree in this height class. Milton has no private tree permit for most residential lots, and Halton Hills has no private tree bylaw yet. Brampton's By-law 317-2012 exempts hazardous trees and trees within 2 metres of an occupied building, which is relevant on a lot of large removals. We confirm your exact situation at the quote.
Where we provide this service
Frequently asked questions
What does the $1,500 starting price include, and what pushes a large removal above it? +
Starting at $1,500 covers the most straightforward version of a 60 to 80 foot removal: workable access, a canopy that is not entirely over structures, sound wood that can be climbed and rigged conventionally, and standard cleanup. Large removals climb above the starting number for concrete reasons. Backyard access that forces hand-moving tonnes of wood, a canopy spread over roofs and neighbouring lots, a dead or decayed trunk that demands a lift or crane, utility lines through the work zone, and full haul-away of several truckloads of wood each add real cost. Permit preparation adds scope where it applies. Every factor shows up itemized in a written quote after we have stood under the tree, and the written number is the one you pay.
Do you need a crane to remove a large tree? +
Not usually, but sometimes, and it is a safety decision rather than an upsell. Most trees in the 60 to 80 foot range on west GTA lots come down conventionally: a climber works the tree top down and the wood is rigged and lowered on ropes. A crane or lift earns its place when the tree is too dead or decayed to climb safely, which describes a lot of the big EAB-killed ash we remove, or when the tree stands over targets that leave no room to rig and swing wood. Where machinery is the right call we say so at the quote, explain why, and price it in. Where it is not needed, you are not paying for it.
Will removing a large tree require a permit? +
Almost certainly yes in most of the west GTA, because a tree this tall carries a trunk far past every local diameter threshold. Toronto and Etobicoke require permits at 30 cm DBH, with ravine-protected land regulated at any size. Brampton and Hamilton use 30 cm, Burlington and Woodbridge 20 cm, Mississauga 15 cm in some zones, and Oakville 76 cm circumference, about 24 cm diameter. The notable exceptions are Milton, which has no private tree permit for most residential lots, and Halton Hills, which has no private tree bylaw. Exemptions exist, for example Brampton exempts hazardous trees and trees within 2 metres of an occupied building, and Vaughan runs a simplified stream for dead and hazardous trees. We confirm what applies at the quote and offer tree permit assistance for applications.
How long does a removal like this take, and when should I book it? +
Plan for a full day on site for most large removals, and up to two days where access is difficult or the wood volume is heavy. Booking lead time is seasonal. Late fall and winter are typically the easiest windows to schedule, and frozen ground is genuinely better for your lawn when heavy wood is moving across it. Spring and early summer after storm season are the busiest periods. If a permit applies, municipal processing time comes first, so a planned removal is worth starting a few weeks ahead. A genuinely hazardous tree does not wait in that queue. We triage dangerous situations with same-day response during business hours, and after hours you can leave a voicemail and we return calls when we open.
Will the removal damage my lawn or garden? +
There will be evidence a crew was there, and we work to keep it minimal. Wood at this scale is heavy, and moving it across a property leaves marks if you do it carelessly. We lay plywood or mats along wood-moving routes and under equipment, keep drop zones tight, and stage wood on hard surfaces where the lot allows. Gardens under the canopy are covered or worked around, and rigging keeps sections from landing in beds. Some lawn compression in high-traffic lines is normal on a big removal, especially in a wet season, and it recovers. What you should not see is rutting, broken hardscape, or crushed planting, and the pre-work walkthrough is where we agree on what matters most to you.
How do I compare quotes for a large removal? +
Make sure the quotes describe the same job. On large removals the spread between quotes usually comes down to scope, not skill. Check whether each quote includes wood haul-away or leaves you a trunk in sections. Check whether the stump is flush cut, ground, or untouched. Check who handles the permit and what happens if the municipality attaches conditions. Ask what equipment is planned and how the wood over the roof comes down. A number dramatically lower than the others is usually missing one of those pieces, or the disposal has not been priced honestly. Our quotes are written, itemized, and firm, so you can hold them up against anyone else's line by line. If another company's plan is better, take it, but compare plans, not just totals.