Tree service contract template
A tree service contract describes which trees you're removing or pruning, what happens to the wood and the stumps, and who answers for the lawn, the fence and the neighbor's side of the line. This template covers residential removals and trimming. Read it below, then open it in SignMaster, describe the trees and send it.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
The contract
Gray blanks are yours to fill in before you send. Each signer fills in the blanks in their color.
- You, before sending
- Property owner
- Tree service company
Tree Service Contract
This Tree Service Contract (the "Contract") is made on Contract date between Tree company name (the "Company") and Owner name (the "Owner") for work at Property address (the "Property").
1. Trees and work
The Company will perform the following work, with each tree identified by species, location and approximate trunk diameter, and marked on site where noted: Trees and work. Pruning will follow accepted arboricultural practice and will not include topping unless written here.
2. Stumps
Stumps of removed trees will be Stump plan. Where stumps are ground, they will be ground to about Grinding depth in inches inches below grade, and the grindings will be Grindings plan. Surface roots beyond the stump are not included unless written in section 1.
3. Wood and debris
Branches and brush will be chipped and hauled away. Trunk wood will be Wood plan. The Company will rake and blow the work area clean of sawdust and small debris at the end of the job.
4. Ownership, neighbors and permits
The Owner confirms that every tree listed is on the Owner's property, or that the owner of any shared or neighboring tree has agreed in writing to the work. The Owner will settle any boundary question before work starts. If the town or an association requires a permit or approval for the work, it will be obtained by Who obtains permits before work starts, and any fee is added to the price.
5. Utilities
The Company will not cut any tree or limb that is touching, or within the minimum approach distance of, an energized power line unless its workers are qualified to do so. The Owner will contact the utility to make such lines safe when needed. Before grinding stumps, the Company will request a utility locate through 811. Private lines that 811 does not mark, such as irrigation, low-voltage lighting, septic lines and pet fences, are the Owner's to point out; the Company is not responsible for damage to private lines that were not marked or disclosed.
6. Access and the site
Equipment will reach the work area by Access route. The Company will use mats or plywood where practical. Heavy equipment may leave ruts or compress turf; the Company will rake out ruts, but reseeding and sod are not included unless written in section 1. The Company is responsible for damage to buildings, fences, vehicles and hardscape caused by its negligence. It is not responsible for damage from hidden defects in a tree, such as internal decay, or from metal, concrete or stone embedded in the wood or soil, which may also add cost if it damages equipment.
Gate codes, pets or other access notes: Access notes.
7. Schedule and weather
Work is planned for Planned work date. High wind, lightning, ice and saturated ground make tree work unsafe, and the Company will reschedule as soon as conditions allow without penalty to either party.
8. Price and payment
The Owner will pay Contract price for the work in this Contract. A deposit of Deposit is due on signing, and the balance is due when the work is complete, by Payment methods. Added work must be agreed in writing before it is done.
9. Insurance and safety
The Company carries general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as the law requires, and will provide certificates on request. The Company controls the work zone; the Owner, family, guests and pets will stay outside it while the crew is working.
10. General terms
This Contract is governed by the laws of the state of State. It is the entire agreement between the parties, can be changed only in writing signed by both, and may be signed electronically. If this Contract was signed at the Owner's home, the Owner may have a right to cancel within three business days, and the Company will give a written notice explaining how.
Contact details
Owner phone: Owner phone Email: Owner email
Company phone: Company phone Certified arborist on the job, if any: Certified arborist
I confirm the trees listed are mine to have worked on, as section 4 describes, and I have read this Contract.
Property owner
Tree service company
Opens it in SignMaster as a template you can edit and send.
A starting point, not legal advice. Have a lawyer review it for your state and situation.
On this page
What a tree service contract settles
Tree work is priced on a walk-around and judged from the ground afterward. The customer remembers "take the big oak down"; you remember quoting a removal without the stump. A contract that lists each tree by location and species, the work on each, and what's left behind stops that before the saw starts.
It also puts the risk on paper. Removals near a house, wires or a property line carry real risk, and the customer should agree in writing that the tree is theirs to cut, that the access route across their lawn is acceptable, and that a stump grinder can't see what's buried.
What's in the contract
- Trees and work: each tree by location and species, marked for removal, pruning, crown raising or cabling.
- Stumps: ground to a depth you set, or left at a set height, and whether grindings are hauled or left in the hole.
- Wood and debris: chipped and hauled, logs left in rounds, or firewood stacked where the customer wants it.
- Ownership and neighbors: the customer confirms the trees are on their property or that the neighbor has agreed in writing.
- Permits: protected or heritage trees, and who gets the permit if your town requires one.
- Utilities: no work by your crew on trees touching energized power lines, and a call to 811 before stump grinding.
- Access and site damage: the route your equipment takes, lawn ruts, and what you will and won't repair.
- Price, insurance and weather: the price, deposit, your liability and workers' comp coverage, and storm delays.
Mistakes tree companies regret
- Describing trees as "the two in back." Use species, location and a rough trunk diameter, or mark them with paint or ribbon and say so.
- Cutting a boundary tree on the customer's word. If the trunk sits on the line, get the neighbor's signature too.
- Grinding a stump without a utility locate. Gas and irrigation lines run under old stumps more often than anyone expects.
- Promising no lawn damage. A loaded chip truck on a wet lawn leaves ruts. Agree on the access route and say how ruts are handled.
Power lines are a different job
OSHA limits work near energized lines to qualified line-clearance tree trimmers. If a tree touches or could fall into a power line, the contract should say the customer will ask the utility to make it safe before your crew starts.
How to send it in SignMaster
- 1
Open it as a template
Choose Use this template above. It's saved in SignMaster with two signers: the property owner, then your tree company.
- 2
List the trees
Fill in the gray blanks with each tree, the work on it, the stump and debris plan, the access route and the price. Attach a marked-up photo or a site sketch to the envelope if you made one.
- 3
Get the owner's signature
The owner confirms the trees are theirs, adds their phone and gate notes, and signs from the emailed link. If you're still in the yard after the estimate, hand them your phone with Sign in person.
- 4
Add the neighbor when needed
For a boundary tree, add a Neighbor role in the template editor with its own signature field, so both owners sign the same envelope.
After a storm, the same contract may go to every customer on a street with only the trees and the price changing. Bulk send builds one envelope per row from a spreadsheet with columns like Property address, Trees and work, and Contract price.
Questions? Answers.
Who is responsible for a tree on the property line?
Rules vary by state, and a tree whose trunk sits on the line often belongs to both owners. Get both owners' written consent before removing it. The template's ownership section covers this.
Does stump grinding come with tree removal?
Only if the contract says so. Many companies price it separately. The template has blanks for the grinding depth, and for whether grindings are hauled away or left to fill the hole.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree?
Sometimes. Many towns protect certain species or sizes of trees, and some require a permit for any removal. Check with the town first, and fill in the template's permit section to say who applies.
Can the homeowner sign from their phone?
Yes. The link works on any phone or computer, with no app to install and no account to create.