Reading a tree quote: what the trade bodies and consumer offices say it should list
Trade bodies in the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand, and two state attorney general offices, each list what a written tree quote or contract is said to cover. This page sets those lists side by side, source by source.
This page is for tree owners. It reports what the named sources say and is not advice about your tree: for that, ask a qualified arborist or one of the offices under Who to call.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. Each item below belongs to the source named beside it, and the sources do not agree on every point. No price is given, because the sources print none.
Arboricultural Association, United Kingdom
The Arboricultural Association (AA) page Choosing your Arborist recommends three companies be asked to quote and says site visits are normally free of charge. It says the quote should arrive in writing and lists what to look for:
- clear and full details of the work, which it calls the specification;
- how the material created by the work will be dealt with, described as arisings, waste, brash, logs or timber depending on the work, and whether removal from site is stated and included in the price;
- the height at which stumps of felled trees will be left, noting that if nothing is stated it is normal for them to be cut close to ground level, which can sometimes be several centimetres high, and that stump removal not specified in the quote may carry an extra charge;
- who is responsible for checking legal constraints such as a Tree Preservation Order or a Conservation Area, and whether there is an extra charge for the paperwork;
- whether a deposit is required, which the page calls not common for most day-to-day tree surgery.
Tree Care Industry Association, United States
The TCIA page Hiring a Tree Care Company tells owners to get estimates in writing and a written work order, to get additional estimates or opinions on the needed work, and to insist on a signed contract that sets out the cost, the work dates and the exact scope of the job. It adds that owners should not be rushed by a bargain and should not pay in advance.
New Zealand Arboricultural Association
The NZ Arb page Why Hire An Arborist says most reputable arborists have clients sign a contract, and lists questions to ask about it: when the work will start and finish, who is responsible for clean-up, whether the quoted figure is the total price, what the terms of payment are, and what the hourly rate is if more is to be done. It says owners may have to pay for estimates and says not to always accept the low bid, and to look at the written specifications of each firm that bid.
Two state attorney general offices, United States
The Tennessee Attorney General's consumer alert on tree services, dated February 4, 2026, says contractors who do not provide a written estimate or a contract should be avoided. It lists details a contract should include: start and completion dates, payment terms, allowances for installation costs, materials, labor, change orders and warranty information. It says consumers should keep a copy. The Georgia Attorney General's storm scam warning, dated September 25, 2024, says legitimate contractors should be able to provide a business license, general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, and written manufacturer and labor warranties.
The lists side by side
| Item | Named by |
|---|---|
| Work described in writing | Arboricultural Association, TCIA, NZ Arb, Tennessee Attorney General, Georgia Attorney General |
| What happens to cut material | Arboricultural Association, NZ Arb (clean-up) |
| Stump height or stump removal | Arboricultural Association |
| Who handles protected-tree or permit checks | Arboricultural Association |
| Start and completion dates | TCIA, NZ Arb, Tennessee Attorney General |
| Payment terms, deposit or advance payment | Arboricultural Association, TCIA, NZ Arb, Tennessee Attorney General, Georgia Attorney General |
| Whether the figure is the total price | NZ Arb |
| Rate for extra work or change orders | NZ Arb, Tennessee Attorney General |
| Proof of insurance and licence | Georgia Attorney General, Tennessee Attorney General, Arboricultural Association, TCIA, NZ Arb |
| Warranty information | Tennessee Attorney General, Georgia Attorney General |
For who is credentialed, licensed or insured, see the guide on what each of those words means. For tree protection orders and permits, the guide on tree protection laws lists the offices.
Who to call
- Tennessee Attorney General, consumer protection: complaints about deceptive business practices, which the alert names to the Division of Consumer Affairs
- Georgia Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division: the division named in the storm scam warning
- Arboricultural Association, ARB Approved Contractor Directory: the register of Approved Contractors in the United Kingdom
- Tree protection offices: the city, county and council offices that handle tree permits and protection orders
Sources
- Arboricultural Association, choosing your arborist, read October 9, 2026
- Tree Care Industry Association, hiring a tree care company, read October 9, 2026
- New Zealand Arboricultural Association, why hire an arborist, read October 9, 2026
- Tennessee Attorney General, consumer alert on tree trimming and removal scams, February 4, 2026, read October 9, 2026
- Georgia Attorney General, storm-related scams warning, September 25, 2024, read October 9, 2026